Publisher: CX-X Canik
June 5th, 2020

 

Editor's Note:

    Hello everyone, and thank you for reading the 501st Newsletter, Issue #42! Due to some schedule conflictions and technical errors, the Krayt article was postponed until today (You can READ IT HERE!). The News Team thanks everyone for their continued support as we push through new ideas and work on quality and consistency. We will be publishing another article this upcoming Friday in order to maintain our consistency standards we try to hold ourselves accountable to. Within our team we have had excellent progress from our new Media staff (CM Target, CT Habivi, CT Arcanist), with Target publishing a quick video recap of our campaign in tandem with the Story Writers and our own War Correspondence. We have some awesome projects in the works that would allow you the community to be more interactable with our team, as well as a lot of great article ideas in the works! Lastly, for Cyclone Logos, we are not including any this week, as I do not have any official logos in my possession at this time. Sorry Cyclone!

 

    We appreciate your continued loyalty to our content, and encourage suggestions and ideas from the community. If you have a cool video project you would like showcased, or that you believe would be a cool addition to our News content, feel free to message myself (CX-X Canik), or CT Momentum.

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 

 

  

 

501st Film Festival

 

 

    As most of you may know, our recruitment video posted on the 501st Website and accompanying Youtube channel is really out of date. As such, CC Player announced last week that we will be holding a 501st Film Festival in tandem with the search for a new unit-wide recruitment video! With limits as high as the sky, you can make a video based on the epic drama and warfare we find in the field, or one that is a romantic comedy about a pilot and his LAAT. The purpose is to show the fun and exciting things we do in this unit. 

 

"All that being said BN recognizes the hard work that it is to truly create a video to showcase the unit which is why we are announcing the first ever 501st Film Festival Contest. The way this contest will work is anyone can submit a video to the unit for a chance to win a $100 Steam gift card. This Film Festival will run from today June 2nd-July 1st and the winner will be decided by the community. Later today there will be a channel on Discord created to submit your Videos to the community, and people can vote with using the emoji on the video they think best encapsulates the experience we offer here in the 501st." ~CC Player

 

 If you have a video you would like to submit, feel free to post it in the #501st-film-festival channel found in Official 501st Discord!

 

 

501st Stickers:

 (Per BC Jay)

   

"I know ALOT of people were interested in buying or getting their hands on 501st stickers.

  

It just so happens that we do have 50. Though we're limited on mailing these to the US only for the time being. The sales of these will be towards the 501st! For 8$ USD, you can have these shipped to you.

  

These are 3 Inch x 3 Inch stickers. If you're interested in these, please contact me FIRST via discord pm's (before you send anything with PayPal) or you can catch me in the Team Speaks TownHall to ask some questions if you got them! (These will help us afford to give out more free stickers and other things in the future) With that being said, once all the new platoons and detachments send in their new logos I'll be able to start the merch store up! Hopefully, 501st stickers will be the first thing on there so people outside the US can get their hands on them too.

  

These are not holographic like the other ones given away.

 32 Left <--- As of the posting of this announcement"

   

     

  

 

Event Management: Currently nothing extravigant is occuring within the Event Management Team, however as a reminder, our "Flavor of the Month" for the month of June is Unsung/Vietnam! Get ready for some Creedence Clearwater blasting through the speakers, and the whoomping of Huey blades as many events are being held, including some unique player ran campaigns, PVP events, and more. 

 

 

 Recruitment: As new potential members join our Teamspeak, the Recruiters are some of the first people they will interact with. As such, it is always important to leave a good impression. As they set up the recruit with the mods to join us on server for fun, they also make sure the new recruits have read our rules and guidelines which are important to a Community our size. Recently, the Recruitment personnel have undergone some backend changes in order to make the process easier for both the recruit and the recruiter, as the entire occurrence can sometimes seem long and drawn out. Recruits are always encouraged to join fun ops as soon as their mods are finished, which is the best way to prepare for BCT. RECRUITS DO NOT NEED TO ATTEND BCT IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE ON OUR SERVERS!

 

 

Discord Management: As the Discord Admin, I want to reiterate my latest announcement on the discord. If you have a channel you would like to see made, or any changes, please make sure you speak with BC Jay, CC Cruisie, or CC Player (this list may extend soon), and THEN submit a Discord Bug Report Form. If you have a permission issues (Help! I cant see (insert channel) and I'm supposed to!), you may message myself (CX-X Canik) directly to get it fixed, but you must STILL fill out the form mentioned. This is so I have a form of record keeping for my personal changelog that a future Discord Admin may view. Thank you!

 

 

 

 

CC Player has been billeted to Battalion XO!  “He’s a good boy, and will follow orders - Wait, this isn't Ghost.” - BC Jay

  

 

 

Avalanche HQ

News: Avalanche HQ members are hard at work organizing the Cyclone expansion, slotted to officially take place this Sunday after all platoon Operations have been completed. 

No Promotions

“We are happy to have successfully executed Phase 6. We are looking forward to the exciting future this expansion will bring to the unit” - CC Crisis

  

  

 

 Cyclone HQ

News: Cyclone Company HQ is running smoothly as they continue to improve and adjust as needed.

No Promotions

"All I see are acceptable casualties” - CS-M Sam 

 

 

Acklay HQ

News: Acklay will be opening Ride-A-Longs sometime next week. Keep an eye open in #acklay-public!

Promotions: Navo (Sr. CP to CS)

"I heard yelling from Ricochet about his spaghetti in the halls. Please ensure he is well fed.” - CC Lava

  

  

Zeta

News: Zeta Company is working their best to provide the unit with Active members to keep squads moving and filling positions across the battalion.

Promotions: Voltage (CR-C to CT), Ghilly (CX-W to CT), Lemartes (CR-C to CT), Urse (CR-C to CT)

"Broad has escaped me. Rats! Oh well, hi Ripjaw."- CC Fancy

 

 

 

  

  

Avalanche 1 

Recruitment: 1-1 has one Trooper Slot Open, and 1-3 has one Medic Slot Open.

Promotions: Sour (Sr. CT to Vt. CT), Spud (CT to Sr. CT), Akaan (Sr. CT to CP).

“Hope everyone is staying safe out there w/ all the protests and covid!” - CC Point

  

 

  

Avalanche 2

Recruitment:2-1 has one Medic Slot Open, 2-2 has one Squad RT and one Team Lead Slot Open, and 2-3 has one Squad RT Slot Open.

Promotions: Stoanes (CP to Sr. CP), Rathalos (CT to Sr. CT).

“2nd platoon is adapting to the new changes and is doing well. Also, did you know that it is in fact not delivery? It’s Bjornio.” - CS-M Pompano

  

 

  

Avalanche 3

Recruitment:3-1 has one Trooper and one Team Lead Slot Open, 3-2 has one Trooper Slot Open, and 3-3 has one Squad RT, and two Medic Slots Open.

Promotions: Flooded (CT to Sr. CT).

“Radda radda radda, radda radda .... radda” - CS Bjorn

  

 

 

 Cyclone 1

Recruitment: 1-1 has one Team Lead and one Medic Slot Open

Promotions: Adhock (Sr. CT to CP), Dusty (Sr. CT to CP)

 

 

 

 Cyclone 2

Recruitment: 2-1 has one Squad RT, and 2-3 has one Squad Leader and two Trooper Slots Open

No Promotions

 

 

 

 Cyclone 3

Recruitment: 3-1 has one Medic Slot, and 3-3 has one Team Leader Slot Open

Promotions: Iron (CR-C to CT) 

  

  

 

Acklay 1

Recruitment: Coming Soon.

Promotions: Nobear (CS to CS-M), Scarab (Sr. CT to CP)

"I stole Ricochet's Spaghetti again" - CS-M Nobear

  

  

Acklay 2

Recruitment: Coming Soon.

Promotions: Grinch (CS to CS-M), Lich (Vt. CT to CP), Snarley (Sr. CT to CP), Daku (Vt. CT to CP), Viking (Vt. CT to CP)

"Don't take drugs from Lich, he fills them with cordial." - CS-M Ricochet

  

 

 

 

 

 

Razor

News: For the month of June, all RTOs are permitted the same permissions as Razor Candidates, being allowed to ride with Razor pilots. This is in conjunction with RTO Leadership in order to give both parties a point of view in order to progress towards better communications.

No Promotions

"Rule one: No matter what else, fly the aircraft" - CX-X Aspect

 

 

 

Mynock

News: Mynock IEA has come to a close, and with it, there are 5 new members in Mynock.

Promotions: Mercy (CR-C to CT), Dragon (Sr. CT to CP)

“I am officially calling Captain Lava to share his ill-gotten pirate treasure with the rest of Hailstorm Battalion” - CS-M Zulu

 

 

 

RTO

News:New RTO training has been released and many people will need to be re-certified.

No Promotions

“We have officially rolled out our new training should make it easier for those interested in RTO to do it” - CI-S Purdy

 

 

 

Medical

News: There is a shiny new Medical Roster!

Medical Promotions: Lich (CM-T to CM-P), Nidus (CM-C to CM), Aedan (CM to CM-T), Parker (CM-C to CM)

“Medical is doing well as of now however we are always looking for new people interested in becoming a medic. If you are interested in medical, trainings are held Mondays 6:30pm EST, all are welcome.” - CM-P Corey

 

 

 

 

 

 

_{501st News Team opinion doesn’t reflect the opinions of the entire community. If you’d like to help the news team bring in new information, you can by signing up for the news team, submitting an article, posting a piece of media or getting publicity for a custom event you’re hosting. For those interested, please contact either CX-X Canik, CT Momentum, or one of the editors for more information. Your voice matters, let it be heard. We’re currently looking for writers to collect stories, media and content. Feel free to leave comments  below on what you think.  Also please consider donating to the 501st to help pay for server costs and help keep this community alive and well maintained.}

 

_{Publisher: CX-X Canik
Assistant Publisher: CT Momentum}

_{Chief Newsletter Correspondent: CX-X Canik
Correspondents: CM Sunshine, CW Super, CM-P Cor
Graphic Designers (Headers, BARC, etc): CS Jupiter, CT Dragon}

The Legion’s Eyes & Ears

  Publisher: CX-X Canik
Editor: CT Momentum
Journalists: CX-X Shnuffles, CT Daku, CT Toast

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

Introduction

 

 

Since the closure of the Legion’s “Onyx” ARC detachment, officers from varying parts of the 501st have been hard at work finding a solution to the Legion’s need for not only a new breed of ARC, but a new breed of trooper. The answer was clear, but the work ahead of them would be a long and arduous process. 

 

 

  

 

 

    Enter the Krayt program.

 

 

“When Onyx had closed down, my first reaction was not a joyful one - I wasn’t excited to see Onyx closing, I was dreading the loss of something that was both integral and interesting to our community. At the end of the day, Jay made what I think was a hard call, and Onyx was shut down. With Onyx’s closure, we went to work planning out an alternative, a second-pass so to speak.” - CC Player

 

A new breed of Advanced Recon Commandos, with the drive and determination to lead the charge against the forces of the confederacy where needed to fill the void left by those that walked before them. These troops would excel in scouting and reconnaissance, and by doing so, ensuring the path is clear for their squadmates.

 

 Not only that, but by embedding the ARC troopers into general infantry squads, you can now expect to see a new level of diversity and flexibility with your respective Krayt Trooper.“The goal for this is to work on fostering a “mentoring mindset” for our 3rd Generation of Troopers.” said CT Bronson, one of the the Krayt program’s newest members. “We want them to come out being approachable, someone that the squad is comfortable with. More akin to a “big brother” figure.” This mentorship and potential originality would give infantry squads giving you that little spark of ingenuity. and spotting those key points across the battlefield. The intention is to make them key to any team element and adaptable to any situation where called upon.

 
 

With an objective of need in mind; the interviews that Battalion conducted during the initial recruitment phase for the Krayt program contrasted the previous ways of Onyx. Player was enlightened us into some of the new goals for the position. “Disregarding what lore tells us, we were looking for role models in the community that everyone in the community could look up to. Someone that a new CR could see and strive to be like. There was no clear “goal” for what we wanted Krayt to be, it was what we wanted the ARC troopers to be, and what Avalanche (and now cyclone) needed them to be.”  Whereas Onyx sought to assess candidates in-part on a virtual setting, Battalion made a point that Krayt candidates would be selected based on their character, essentially picking apart who they were and mold them to become wealths of knowledge for others.

  
 
 
 
 
 

A New Breed of Trooper

 

 

“A big thing from me is that here at the Company & Battalion level, there’s always initiatives taken to provide the troopers with “a bigger toolbox” so to speak. We wanted to give them the tools they need to succeed so that everyone has a baseline knowledge and gets a grasp of what they’re doing. In no way are the things we teach our ARCs unique or vastly special from what anyone else within the unit should be doing. We’d like to see Krayt troopers integrate what they learn here into the community as a whole. 

 

They’re role models, but they aren’t ahead or “on top of” their peers. Lead from within, not from without.” - CS-M Odin

  

Ready and on-call for any challenge presented to them, the Legion’s Krayt troopers were selected to become the Battalion’s finest. Both candidates and graduates of the Krayt Program were representatives of what the Legion needed in its community, leaders that could promote a positive environment, one that would allow the troopers they work alongside to not only better themselves, but those around them.

 

“From what I’ve heard and what I’ve seen, it seemed that leadership intended for Krayt troopers to amplify Avalanche’s effectiveness. To promote growth within the platoons they were embedded within and perform to the best of their ability.” - CT Kitsune

 

“The training highlights smaller group tactics, maneuvering in small teams accompanied the training as well, which built a level of trust and comfort among team members. With that, I envisioned Krayt Troopers as those that would be putting their best foot forward to be role models in the community when we get together we’re capable of achieving in any environment.” - CT Bronson

 

Battalion and the candidates that have already been accepted into the ARC program look towards easy sailing, and a stellar future where they can continue to perform at the best of their abilities. Providing the members of the 501st around them with both guidance and the proper mindset to approach tomorrow’s challenges. Growing in both virtue, and leadership as time passes

 

“With Phase 6 in our future, the Krayt Program is being expanded with Cyclone. Cyclone's ARCs will be known as Nexu and platoon ARC selections will continue. Down the line ARCs may be able to be used for recon and path-finding before we go to a planet, just like Acklay. Acklay will still be used for path-finding, but the ARCs will give us another tool to use in case Acklay is being used elsewhere.” - CC Crisis

 

“In the future I’d like Krayt to expand on what it is now, in addition to that I’d like for their member retention to remain constant. Everyone can agree with me on this, I don’t want to see ARC turn into what it was before, where it became so out of tune that it was unrecognizable.” - BC Jay

 

With this, the 501st Legion expands its “Tool-box” with quality members from within its community for application towards the war effort and a brighter future ahead. Look forward to the next time, when we whip up a bit of a whirlwind so keep an eye out for the center of the storm!

 

 

Publisher: CX-X Canik
May 15th, 2020

 

Editor's Note:

 

     Hello everyone, and thank you for reading our second Official War Report! This past weekend we started our Stend IV Campaign, involving foes such as the nefarious CIS and the criminal masterminds of the Black Suns Crime Syndicate. We experimented with our article this week, including some forms of commentary, and tampering with how we write our articles. Feel free, as always, to let us know what looks good and what doesn't. Being our second week of the War Correspondent program going live, we still have a lot of kinks to work out, but are working hard to provide you with content related to what you all have been doing in game during the campaign.

 Our next goal is to provide you with more color in these articles in the form of in-game screen shots. For the sake of content, if you have cool screen shots taken in game during these Operations and FTXs, feel free to submit them in #news-open on the discord, or via PM to myself (CX-X Canik). We also would like to showcase a short and sweet recap video created by CM Target! He has agreed to join us in the News Team in order to further these videos that can be published in tandem with our War Cor Recap Articles. Keep an eye out for them!

 

 

 

  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Fortunate Sun

501st Platoon Operations

For Week of 5/15-17

 
 
 
 
 
 

 

Introduction

 

 

    A world clouded in darkness, the landscape of Stend IV is dominated by primarily swamplands and trees for as far as the eye can see. Its lands, shrouded under the canopy of trees and cloud cover conceal one of the galaxy’s foulest worlds. The Republic’s own 501st would find themselves descending upon the breeding grounds for the greatest scum the Republic has ever seen, the Black Sun syndicate. Join us as we delve in to the first reports to come straight from the front, as our troopers dig through the filth littered forests and crime-ridden cities. Their foes, more Man than machine, would be pitted against the Republic’s finest. Only the gifts of strength and courage bestowed upon them by the training they’ve endured over the years will allow the Legion to triumph today.

 

 

 

 

 

Operation “Isengard”

Avalanche Co. 1st Platoon

  

  

   Keeping the waves of Confederate machinery at bay was the main concern of the Legion’s troopers, but keeping order throughout the galaxy was the Republic’s concern. Their warriors turned peacekeepers would need to meet both the generals and senators halfway. The full might of Avalanche Company would descend upon the harsh features of Stend IV. With 1st Platoon at the vanguard, and Lieutenant Point at the helm. The Company’s spearhead would make landfall just short of their first point of interest, “Cougar”. Before this however, the area would need to be cleansed, and Point knew just the Detachment.

 

    The initial volley of blistering energy made its way in brilliant streaks across the night sky. Searing energy bore holes through the dense fog and the hillsides were devastated. Trees and smaller plants alike faced annihilation, being uprooted from their resting places as glowing rock deformed into craters. Mynock’s bombardment was incessant, and the fire they rained seemed unending. Just as the roar of their guns had begun to die down, the whine of engines began to pick up. Taking advantage of the blitz provided by Mynock’s batteries, 1st Platoon’s ‘Shock and Awe’ operation was well underway. From here on out, it would fall upon the shoulders of 1st Flight, of the Razor Squadron to shuttle the Legion’s men to their landing zone.

 

    Crimson strands of plasma hurled past the noses of their craft as the assault transports drew closer to their drop sites. Glancing hits and close calls forced the pilot’s hand, and the area was deemed fit for an additional fire mission. The gunships made way for another shelling, which left nothing in its wake. Stend IV’s garrison would be at the mercy of their guns, and just for a moment, the planet seemed to buckle under the intensive shelling. Finally, a second pass was authorized and the platoon’s fight through the jungle could begin.

 

    Skirmishing broke out amongst the squads from the onset of their assault, the Black Suns were hired killers who fought for their warlords, they were well equipped and had maintained a strong grip on their sectors of galactic space for ages. However while the gangsters fought for their leaders out of fear, our infantrymen fought for something greater than them, they fought for the Republic. As both alien and clone fell victim to bolts of plasma cast across the forest floor, it became clear rather quickly that Point intended to hold his ground. 3rd and 4th Squad made their stand at Landing Zone Shakira, refusing to falter under the mercenary’s attack. Sergeants Shape and Jupiter rallied the two squads under the dire conditions, and pressed onward.

 

    Stolen Republic guns found themselves being turned on their rightful users, and the 1st found themselves under an intensive bombardment yet again. Every proton bomb and mortar at the Black Sun’s disposal was slung down-range towards the Republic’s vanguard, leaving them no choice but to advance. The battle for Point Cougar left countless dead or wounded, yet the Republic had come out on top of the mercenaries. With Point Cougar under their control, the entirety of 1st began their advance to Point Jaguar. They trekked past the worst that Stend IV had to offer, the jungles offered many advantageous spots for the Black Suns to interfere with squad formations, and interfere they did.

 

    Durasteel-tipped MAAWS rounds greeted the weary platoon, accompanied by a hearty count of Confederate air support. The Independent Systems made their involvement clear, sending an assortment of support to the Black Suns aid. The 1st found its footing quickly and the platoon’s squads sprung into action, fanning out across the treeline as they hit Point Jaguar. Fog-filled skies were burnt away by the scarlet lances of energy shooting out from every dugout and bunker the Black Suns could cram their men into. Vibrant lavender-lit torpedoes sunk their way into squad formations, testing the platoon’s resolve to press their attack. The garrison at Jaguar soon followed suit as the defenders of Point Cougar. The position was overtaken by Avalanche’s spearhead, which brought their forces to bear down on their third and final task, Point Boa.

 

    A rifleman’s bane, the tracked monsters known by all for their endurance, tanks. Confederate armor plowed through the underbrush surrounding Boa. Their approach was picked up far before they rolled into view, yet rose-colored bolts from their cannons were still the first to make contact with the platoon. Plasma-scorched trunks were all that the Platoon could rally behind, the volume of fire suppressing all of the infantrymen before the Separatist Scorpions. Sergeant Jupiter motioned for his rocketmen, flagging a few down and sending them off to the armored section’s flanks. Guided munitions sailed past the platoon, finding purchase on the hull plating of the Confederate tanks. Detonations rang out across the jungle and the blaster fire died down yet again, replaced by the crooked whirring of broken-down machinery.

 

    With the Black Suns’ last trick played, Point and the 1st crept out onto Point Boa, seemingly uncontested. The fighting came to a close, and not a single trooper had fallen in the final attack. The platoon shored up a defensive line and dug in for the long week ahead of them, signalling the end of Operation “Isengard”.

 

 

 

 

 

Operation “Gone Fishing”

Avalanche Co. 2nd Platoon

  

  

   Pitted against the galaxy’s lowest, Pompano and the 2nd would undertake the long and arduous process of rooting out and destroying the mercenaries, starting at the stem. Flanked on three sides by waterways and a forested hillside that dominated its northern face, Objective Gharial housed the Black Suns’ base of operations on Stend IV. Ample defensive positions and vulnerable supplies provided the 2nd Platoon with a prime target, which they were swift to pick up on. As daylight broke out over the horizon, the Republic’s gunships kissed the clouds and descended upon the unsuspecting Confederate mercenaries.

 

    The area surrounding landing zone “Yellowfin” was hardly contested, with stiff branches putting up more resistance than Separatist defenders which were absent at the time and nowhere to be seen. Without a welcoming party ready for the 2nd, their squads hastily closed the distance between them and the walls of Gharial. 1st and 2nd Squad wasted no time moving through the dense jungle that overlooked the Black Suns’ base. Not a single soul caught wind of their approach, and they would keep it that way until they settled into well-selected overwatch positions. Despite the 1st and 2nd Squad’s success in navigating around hostile patrols, 3rd and 4th would be the first to spring the Black Suns’ trap. Like a wolf into the lion’s jaws, the unsuspecting mercenary patrol that came to bear down on the infantrymen were well-received by ionized bolts of energy. Cobalt beams found their targets in the early morning, leaving bodies in the wake of 3rd and 4th Squad.  With the bandits laid to rest in their trail, the two squads made haste towards their designated areas. The fight that had played out before them, unbeknownst to them, would provide the Confederacy with enough time to lay a trap to ensnare 1st and 2nd Squad. 

 

    With dawn well underway, Stend IV was brought into full light before Pompano and his men. An uneasy period of downtime went by before the platoon was ready for the next step in their plan. Though as soon as 2nd Platoon’s command staff began drafting up the next set of plans, the Separatists made their move. Sapphire stained streaks of energy snaked their way towards the platoon. Blasterfire riddled the two elements from all sides, keeping them firmly in place with nowhere to run. To make matters worse, the ambush was given enough time to coordinate with an artillery battery in the area. With their pieces sighted on Avalanche’s position, velvet-encased proton rounds were sent down-range. Shells hurled past the tree canopy and found themselves burrowing craters into the vicinity of 2nd Platoon’s position. Confederate battle droids pounced on the suppressed infantrymen, rapidly closing the already thinning gap between them and Pompano’s HQ Element. The unrelenting attack showed no signs of letting up, putting the Sergeant Major and his men in increasing danger of being routed. But as disaster seemed to crest the horizon, a new light outshined it. The Platoon’s Krayt liaison, Korvus, was present throughout the fight. The stars seemed to align in the moment for him, and when the situation grew dire there was no other option left for him but to fight. With a burning tenacity he drew fire from every corner of the jungle, laying waste to any artificial soldier he encountered. Waves of azure-tinted energy ebbed and flowed across the many fields of fire that his Z6 Rotary Gun could reach. The distraction bought the 2nd much-needed time, and they were quick to capitalize on the trooper’s efforts. The Platoon’s command element was able to mount a successful retreat, accepting that the odds were stacked against them unless they could devise a better plan. The Platoon seemingly vanished back into the underbrush, as both sides went about licking their wounds.

 

    With a rallied platoon at its back, HQ ordered a full advance on an enemy held town to the north. Harassed by heavy engagements, 2-2 was masscassed into submission. However, in the chaos, the 2nd platoon dutifully noted the relocation of Civilian and high value targets out of the operation area. Fighting tooth and nail, street by street, 2nd platoon eventually was able to rally and bring the Black Suns’ base into its control.. It was then however, that the mercenaries and their Confederate advisors threw an underhanded blow at the Republic. Employing one of their own troop carriers in a low-level raid to wreak havoc throughout Avalanche’s positions. Once the raid had been extinguished, and the casualties had been resolved, an intercommunicator from 2nd Platoon got a hold of a gunship via his radio. A few lines of clarification later and the troop carrier was blown off the face of Stend IV by assault transports from Razor’s 2nd Flight.

 

    With Objective Gharial secured, and the Black Suns’ main operating base under the new management of the 501st Legion, 2nd Platoon’s task was complete. The already battered defensive positions were once again manned by a new set of defenders, and the garrison looked onwards at a neighboring Confederate forward operating base. The Independent Systems had made their presence clear on Stend IV, and the base’s heavy fortifications were all but clear indicators of a siege that would take place during the inevitable assault. For now though, they simply looked on, and thought of the wars to come.

 

 

 

 

 

Operation “Kingfisher”

Avalanche Co. 3rd Platoon

  

  

   In order for the risky assault on Stend IV to be successful, the Company would have to do some tidy work around their Operating Base. The Black Suns had made a point of deploying stolen Republic assets against Avalanche, and Lieutenant Andromeda would be tasked with overseeing the end of these tricks. With Andromeda at 3rd Platoon’s helm, the many squads comprising the 3rd were sent barreling southward from their forward base towards possible Black Suns strongholds. The safeguarding of the Republic’s forward base on Stend IV was of the utmost importance to the planetary campaign. Its garrison was capable of projecting the Legion’s power over a vast stretch of land in every direction, proving itself a vital asset to the 501st’s own Hailstorm Battalion.

 

    By mid-day, the Lieutenant and his teams were making great headway into the jungles surrounding the forward base. Huge swaths of forest were carefully sweeped by large maneuver teams. The forest seemed to crawl to a standstill, the 3rd drew closer to their first point of interest, “Bobcat”. As the Lieutenant crept his forces along the northern face of Point Bobcat their objective came into full view. 3rd Platoon’s command staff were swift in tasking their elements, and within minutes the platoon shifted to meet the mercenaries head-on. Corporals Muzzer and Twine of 1st and 2nd Squad respectively, would take charge of teams skirting along the western face of the objective. With Twine and 2nd Squad at Muzzer’s back, the element ebbed closer to Point Bobcat. Flanking the objective from its opposite side, 3rd and 4th Squad shored up fighting positions in preparation for a two pronged assault, the perimeter of Point Bobcat almost entirely enveloped in Republic lines at this point. Finally, the Republic made their move, and the forests surrounding Point Bobcat lit up with a blinding assault from both its flanks. Just when 3rd Platoon began to close the distance to the enemy garrison, a new foe came into their sights to oppose them.

  

    Offworlders and hired contractors blitzed the unsuspecting platoon. The absence of battle droids dealt a crippling blow to the infantrymen, who were not well accustomed to combat with organics. Casualties began to mount, and the unfamiliar feeling of distress began to set in. Emerald and sapphire bolts of energy dotted the Republic positions, lumbering trees splintered and broke away at the sheer force of the mercenaries’ assault. The body count started to climb, but the platoon dug itself in and strengthened their resolve, unwavering in light of the new challenge. The scenes blurred together, and alien bodies were piled high well before the fight began to come to a close. Finally at the battle’s end, Point Bobcat had successfully been wrangled under 3rd Platoon’s control. Andromeda wasted no time, organizing the next advance across one of Stend IV’s many rivers. If the platoon’s sweep of the neighboring sectors was to be successful, the 3rd would need to stage a successful river crossing. 

  

    On the final leg of their push, Sergeant Major Drammon mustered an element of 3rd Platoon, leading an attack on the Platoon’s next objective, Point “Milk”. Their advance was met with barely any resistance, and their teams made short work of the defenders present. Sporadic contact throughout the lowlands began to die out, and Point Milk was under Avalanche’s control. With their spirits high, and their success leaving dozens of hired guns dead in the mud, Point “Caiman” was the next and final task at hand for Andromeda and his men. The lieutenant took advantage of dividing his force yet again, pressing a two-pronged attack on the flanks of the Black Suns-held objective. Kaminoan-bred warriors descended from the east and west, encircling the backworld criminals. A familiar drone of starship engines buzzed the platoon, and the disc-shaped troop carriers of the Confederacy came into full-view. The droid gunships were not to be trifled with, yet their reputation would suffer a blow today. Guided munitions sailed skywards, leaving thick plumes of smoke as they burrowed into Separatist machinery. Rocketeers made quick work of the remaining transports, and the gunships careened towards the ground. The platoon left nothing but heaps of scrapped Separatist property behind them, charred droids marking where the Independent Systems faltered, and the Republic triumphed. In addition to 3rd’s pincer move, Clone Intercommunicators signalled for an additional fire mission from the Mynock section present at the time. Artillery snaked its way through the clouds and uprooted the defenders at Point Caiman. Tossing both man and machine from their fighting positions. When the smoke had cleared, a derelict objective was all that remained, with the area under the Republic’s control. The 3rd mustered their squads by Caiman, and let out a well needed sigh of relief.

 

 

 

 

 

Operation “Blood Trail”

Avalanche Co. 4th Platoon

   

  

   Bursting into the atmosphere, the (Acclamator name here) came forth over the planet of Stend IV. The forward momentum thrusters easing to a dull rumble, silence came about the open deck of the Acclimator, clearing the way for Sergeant Major Drifter to relay the mission objectives given to 4th Platoon. Razor pilots scrambled to their LAATs, making final checks with the Petty Officers of the Warden Detachment to ensure all of the aircraft were fully operational. Shortly after the briefing ends, the squads hastily reach their assigned LAATs, boarding and making final mental preparations for the battle that is to ensue.

 

“Razor, Tower. You are cleared to depart downwind. Safe Flight.”

 

    The growing whine of the Republic’s assault transports precursored the jolt as they lifted from the ground and moved to formation. The troopers of 4th Platoon braced themselves for the impulse. During the flight to the ground, a strange tune about a fortunate one played over the intercoms of the LAATs, pumping the spirits of 4th Platoon. With a jolt, the aircraft landed on the surface, and the tunes dimmed, the intercom coming to life. “Dismount! Dismount!” Disembarking, the squads each formed a security detail encircling the craft until it departed, tasked with their own objectives. The dust cleared from the landing zone, and so began Phase 1 of the Operation.

 

“1st Squad, 2nd Squad, move out!”

 

    The jungle’s varying density made maneuvering difficult, but the first two squads of 4th Platoon moved anyway. Encountering a few B1 and Spec Op droids, they were eventually able to stage and begin the assault onto their first objective, POI Cheetah. Cheetah was a fortified outpost, its defenses consisting of trenches and barricades in a futile attempt to provide adequate cover against the mighty 4th. Occupying the outpost were a mix of B1s, B2 Super Battledroids, Droidekas, and Dwarf Spider Droids. “Lerooooooooooy! Jeeeeeenkiiiiiins!” shouted one of the troopers, who almost immediately fell to the blaster fire of the machines that were not programmed to appreciate such ancient jokes from an era long in the past. Smoke began to fill the air as the Dwarf Spider Droids were destroyed one by one. Despite the enemy popping up from the tall grass, shotgun blasters firing away, and the heavy fight from the droids whose intent was to not give the mighty 4th their outpost, 1st and 2nd squad were eventually able to secure the area. The CIS engaged them again with counter attacks from all sides, pre-dominately from the south and north, utilizing a plethora of force multipliers. However, despite the Hyena Bombers, the B2s, and all the machinery the CIS could throw at them, their efforts were thwarted by the steady aim of 4th Platoon’s 1st and 2nd squads. Razor rained plasma from the skies, filling the land surrounding the outpost with explosions and destruction. At last, the outpost was now under Republic control under a mighty grip.

 

“4th Squad, get a move on! We need overwatch now!”

 

    As the battle raged for Outpost Cheetah, to the south 3rd and 4th Squads faced similar hardships. Their task, securing POI Puma (a set of structures being used by the scum of the Black Suns), was literally an uphill fight. Pushing through the jungle vines dangling from the exotic trees, 3rd Squad began it’s assault of Outpost Puma. Blaster fire filled the space between the squad and the outpost as the members of 3rd Squad forced their way up the hill. As they fought on, 4th Squad continued along the side of the hill towards their overwatch point. As the sound of violence raged to their south at Outpost Puma, they quickened their pace. Their purpose at this phase of the Operation was to hold off any potential QRF forces that may be called for at Outpost Puma. Just as quickly as it had begun, the sounds of war dimmed. Phase 1 was complete.

 

    As the squads of 4th Platoon were landing at their new area of operations, they were met with silence. An eerie feeling crept along their skin, amplified by the sounds of the unknown within the jungle landscape. But like all good clones, they were to follow orders, no matter their feelings. The troops began their next move. 1st and 2nd Squads were moving to POI Ocelot, a compound holding a hundred or so enslaved prisoners, captured by members of the Black Suns. 3rd and 4th Squads were tasked to assault POI Perch, an advantageous position that allowed for a constant observation and the potential for interference of any CIS response forces that may push up the river during the rescue operations at Ocelot. 

 

“Get to the prisoners!”

 

    1st and 2nd Squads found themselves ambushed while en route to their objective. Fire came from their flanks, and the Z6 blasters pelted the jungle walls in response. The squads drudged through the muck, despite the resistance each step bore. The intensity of the fight only increased as they reached closer to the prison. Between the CIS machines of war, and the enginuity and cunning of the Black Suns, crossing the shallow marsh into the prison compound was not without heavy losses. 3rd and 4th Squads encountered similar push backs, but were able to secure Perch. 4th Platoon’s efforts saved almost 100 prisoners being held by the Black Suns, however they could not move on to Phase 3, where they would create a defensive line in order to hold all ground they secured. In a final attempt to cause as much damage as possible to the Black Suns, Razor was cleared to bombard the objectives, ensuring the enemy could not retake them as the advantageous positions they were 

 

 

 

 

 

Aftermath

 

 

 

The initial deployment to Stend IV was not without its troubles. A common topic in debrief among the platoons was spacing. While some did not have real issues with the spacing between troopers, for others it pre-ambled tragic losses. In a war of ranged fire, distance is your friend in every way. A safe distance prevents massive casualties during prolonged artillery engagements, as well as allows for a more organized travel in its own way. 

  

Understandably, this planet's surface has proven difficult to maneuver, what with its jungle-esque features and abundances of flowing streams and rivers. Another hot topic was platoon movements. Whether squads are moving to their next objective, or preparing for an extraction, we must remember to always keep our feet moving, and our mind focused on our formations and the situation around us. Delays can always be expected, but by expecting them, you can best prepare to keep moving through them.

  

The Black Suns have proven their cunning, and the dirtiness they are will to force us to endure. But, like all good soldiers, we follow orders and endure anyways. Good luck on your next deployments, and we’ll see you all next week with the next cycle’s recap! 

 

 

 

_{Publisher: CX-X Canik
Assistant Publisher: CT Momentum}

_{Chief War Correspondent: CP Swanny
War Correspondents: CW Super, CI-C Bastil, CS-M Drammon, CP Muzzer
Recap Article written by: CX-X Shnuffles, CX-W Rive, CT Momentum, CX-X Canik
Graphic Designers: CS Jupiter, CT Dragon}