This report is in regards to the incident that occurred on the dates of 7/3/23 to 7/5/23 in the Southern Badlands Sector 16 Cave System 09.

On 7/1/23 elements of the 3rd Heavy were assigned to investigate possible Changeling activity near their sector.

On 7/2/23 the 3rd Heavy detachment was dispatched to Sector 16 Cave System 09 at 0800. At approximately 1835 the 3rd Heavy Wing arrived near Cave System 09 and began to set up a base camp in compliance with Guard protocol but were unable to establish anti-changeling wards or barriers due to a lack of unicorn support.

On 7/3/23 at approximately 0545 Captain (O-3) Scarlet Sunshine received order modifications via pegasus messenger, PV2 Stone Arrow. At the time this report was being written verification of the contents of the orders have not been verified.

It has been confirmed that PV2 Stone Arrow was dispatched from the 3rd Heavy primary base, it has not been confirmed whom sent the order modification.

At 0730 Capt. Sunshine informs 3rd Heavy detachment of the change of their orders. Several members of the detachment vocalize their, concern with the changes. (Members listed below.) No other actions are taken by members.

-1LT. Frost Wings -SSG. Lucky Light -SGT. Rock Buster -SGT. Shadow Walker
-SPC. Swift Arrow -PFC. Jade Jester -PV2. Marble Spirit -PVT Ebony Drop

Note: The list of guards that spoke out against the order modification were part of the group that spoke out concerning the lack of unicorn support prior to detachment.

At 0800 the detachment began to move towards their objective leaving behind a minimal garrison with no means of long range communications.

After fifteen minutes the pegasus of the detachment took flight, not to provide overwatch but advance ahead of the earth ponies of the detachment.

The pegasus flew for nearly a hour before arriving at the entrance to Cave System 09. CPT. Scarlet Sunshine ordered a ten minute stand down before forming into a standard assault formation for earth ponies.

Elements of the formation again voiced concern in regards to the upcoming advance. SSG. Light brought of the point their current formation was for earth ponies and not pegasus.

SGT. Walker pointed out that no recon had been conducted and volunteered to lead a wing to conduct combat recon, request was denied by CPT. Sunshine.

Initial entrance into the cave system found no resistance form any opposing force.

The pegasus search for approximately twenty minutes before signs of changeling activity were discovered.

No investigation was conducted as reported by surviving guards. The pegasus instead proceeded to follow the signs as ordered by CPT. Sunshine.

First contact with OPFOR was not with changelings but a squad of Diamond Dos mercenaries from the Steel Claws as reported by surviving guard . No information is available at the time of writing if they were employed by changelings or acting independently.

CPT. Sunshine left WIA with the KIA to provide rear guard as the rest of the detachment advanced.

Over the next four hours the detachment experienced multiply hit and run attacks at their flanks and rear in what appears to be probes at how the pegasus would react from changeling attacks.

With no reason being reported CPT. Sunshine ordered the withdraw from the cave system. As the withdraw occurred no attempts were made to secure cleared areas or lay traps.

When reaching the site of first contact with OPFOR no guard where present, KIA or WIA. No search S&R was ordered dispute volunteers offering to do so.

Existed the cave system the pegasus were shocked to discovered the earth ponies had not arrived to secure the area.

CPT. Sunshine ordered a defensive square while he dispatched a squad of scouts. After not reporting back within their assigned time frame CPT. Sunshine ordered the fallback to base camp.

The pegasus took to the air in a box formation with no scouting elements. Reviewing the events up to this point no fault was found in the choices of CPT. Sunshine.

Ascending to an altitude believed to be above that of the changelings the formation began a zigzag search pattern while returning to base camp in an attempt to find the missing earth ponies.

Approximately half way back to base camp a sink hole was found that had appeared since heading to Cave System 09.

Surrounding the sink hole were the bodies of Changelings, Diamond Dogs, and Guards.

Seeing what appeared to be signs of a resisting fallback CPT. Sunshine ordered the formation to increase speed and began a straight flight to base camp. 1LT. Wings objected since this was not the standard weave flight pattern that should be used.

Pegasus encountered no OPFOR between the sink hole and base camp.

Several kilometers from base camp smoke was seen raising from the area of base camp. CPT. Sunshine
proceeded to order his heavy assault elements to advance and prepare for a combat drop.

SSG. Lucky Light took charge of the heavy assault element and ascended to the proper altitude.

In a coordinated attack the two groups began relief efforts of the earth pony elements.

SSG. Light's force was able to break the initiative of the diamond dogs surround the surviving earth ponies creating a hole to advance through.

CPT. Sunshine's force provided air cover and relief as needed so that ground guard could reform after breaking out. At the same time CPT. Sunshine began strikes against changeling magic users.

While the ground force was reforming SSG. Light dispatched a runner to base camp to inform them of what intelligence they had been gathered.

With formations reestablished the ground guards began moving with only minimal interference from OPFOR.

This was accomplished by 1LT. Wings having SSG. Light leading the heavy assault elements preforming four more combat drops on OPFOR with two wings provided a CAP.

Arriving at base camp the combined force discovered it was now being sieged. CPT. Sunshine ordered air assets to open a path into the base camp.

Again this was not in compliance with standard procedures, however no reports of this being brought up have been reported at time of writing.

In a two stage staggered attack air elements were able to force open a corridor to base camp the earth forces rapidly moved through.

With the ground forces now in the base camp the air elements fell back into camp with no OPFOR following, air or ground.

The regrouped 3rd Heavy element then began to take count of causalities. Over all the ground elements had suffered 23 percent loses with 52 percent wounded of all of grades and 7 percent unaccounted while the air elements had suffered 17 perfect causalities with 21 percent wounded of all grades.

Given the rapidly approaching fall of night it was decided not to send any pegasus runners to inform the main element of the 3rd Heavy.

OPFOR made no attempts to infiltrate or attack the 3rd Heavy base camp through the night.

On the morning of 7/04/23 it was discovered that OPFOR had been able to establish control of the area with overwhelming numbers that guard forces would not be able to overcome.

In addition OPFOR had began to prove the defenses of the camp.

Using tactics similar to those used against the pegasus force in the caves the day prior.

Reports indicate guard forces thought OPFOR would use smaller attack to slowly remove opposition.

Throughout the day no one attack appeared to stand out. Their purpose seemed to be for the above stated reason and not to allow the guard a chance to rest and recover.

With the changing of the sky OPFOR began infiltration attempts. Collected reports do not cover the entire night but collected reports due show attempts were foiled.

It is the option of this officer that this to be false and the camp was successfully infiltrated by changeling elements.

In addition two Diamond Dog tunnels were opened inside the base camp that the guard was able to close with the limited amount of explosives available.

With the raising of the sun on 7/05/23 the remaining command elements decided to risk pegasus runners to request reinforcements.

The few uninjured or lightly injured were tasked with breaking through the changeling controlled sky and report back to their primary base.

The pegasus not attempting to leave the area launched an offensive to draw OPFOR to them to increase the odds of success.

While the runners were able to break through they do so with moderate losses with the offensive force taking heavy losses.

Report indicate after this the OPFOR broke contact with guard elements and withdrew back into defensive formations.

At the time of this writing no intelligence or reports have been able to explain this.

Taking the break in attacks remaining guard elements tended to causalities and reinforced base camp as supplies allowed and set up the remaining explosives.

At approximately 1215 OPFOR reengaged guard elements using superior numbers having abandoned smaller strikes.

The base camp within approximately fifteen minutes was in danger of being overpowered forcing guard elements to set off the remaining explosives.

After the detention OPFOR again broke contact and fell back to into defensive formations outside the base camp.

OPFOR took no further actions against the base camp and simply stayed in defensive formations until reinforcements arrived.

At this time OPFOR sent a detachment to engage the arriving guard elements while the main body moved to withdraw.

As the arriving guards made contact with the OPFOR the base camp elements did not engage in a flanking action, against standard procedure.

It is the option of this officer that this was an acceptable action given the base camp guard status. As such no disciplinary action well be taken.

With reinforcements engaged with an OPFOR detachment and the base camp unable to take action the main body of the OPFOR was able to withdraw without harassment.

When able to reach the base camp it was found that it had suffered 100 percent causalities with 81 percent KIA, 12 percent WIA of all grades, and 7 percent MIA.

Currently reports are still being collected as quickly as possible along with the ongoing investigation. Updates will be filed in a separate more detailed report.

I certify that all information in this report to be true and accurate to the best of my ability at the time of writing on the morning of 7/06/23.

COL. Golden Storm

Author's Notes:

Sorry, no actually chapter this week.
I couldn't get the next story chapter to work and flow in a way that didn't seem forced.

As you saw I put up another 'Extras Chapter' for this week to give some more background.
Thanks for stopping by and hopefully giving it a read. If I did well it was at least a little
entertaining.