Situation Debriefing
Pre-op situation report
Summary of events
Strategic Command, with assets from 40 Commando, 29 Commando, and Joint Aviation Command, was deployed to the region with the task of removing the significant piracy threat and heavy weapon dealing occurring on the two disputed islands to the south. Over the course of the first four weeks, successful missions were conducted, leading to the collection of increasing amounts of intelligence. This intel revealed significant collusion and dealings between the Black Bear Raiders, Whitewater PMC, and an element within the Novograd Peoples Legion led by a rogue general, Dimitri Volkov.
The intelligence indicated that Whitewater PMC was being used to secure advanced equipment, which was later identified as two EMP devices and RTG cores to power them. Additionally, the Black Bear Raiders were being utilised to exert pressure on Borealos, maintaining conflict and ensuring continued funding for Volkov’s illicit weaponry transactions and planned coup.
The turn of events occurred when the cargo ship `MV Kuzma Minin` was boarded and raided by the Black Bear Raiders, in an operation organised by Whitewater PMC. They intended to use the contents of a cargo container, identified as an RTG core needed for repairs of a device damaged in a test fire, to extort a final payday from Dimitri Volkov. During the raid, the leader of the Black Bear Raiders was shot by Ryder Stone on the cargo ship's bridge. This was discovered when 40 Commando boarded and secured the boat.
Intel recovered from interrogating Ryder Stone led to the location of the leader Sawyer, who has not spoken since his capture. Due to his dealings with Whitewater PMC and his use of various intelligence assets, uncovering his real name or background has been nearly impossible.
After raiding Sawyer's compound, plans were uncovered to move the package to a dock on the mainland in preparation for a hand-off to Dimitri Volkov's men. This turned out to be an ambush: the Whitewater personnel were killed and their temporary airfield was destroyed. With their leader Sawyer in UK custody, their members scattered across the mainland.
In the following weeks, officers bribed and loyal to Dimitri Volkov attempted a coup with significant success, but their progress stalled around the capital. Meanwhile, 40 Commando began raiding targets behind enemy lines to support Borealos' advances into Novograd while also hunting down and locating the "CBRN" package. They discovered plans to lure BDF forces into Novograd territory, detonate the EMP, and then push back through their lost territory, aiming to cripple Borealos' technical advantage in one strike. 40 Commando gathered intel on the device's location and, while raiding the suspected compound, inadvertently detonated the device. Fortunately, BDF forces were still on the border at the time.
With Dimitri Volkov's plans falling apart, subsequent missions were conducted to support a final push on the airfield as his coup collapsed. However, UK and Borealos forces were unable to capture him. It appears that the remaining elements of Whitewater PMC launched an assault on the airfield compound, killing Dimitri Volkov and stealing the RTG core, which had been removed from the last EMP device and no longer served a purpose after the first device was discovered and plans disrupted. Volkov's encrypted/encoded diary was recovered next to his body.
Current Situation
After assisting Borealos forces, Strategic Command and its associated assets recovered their equipment and returned to the UK for home rotation. Borealos and Novograd politicians used the conflict as an opportunity to resolve their differences. Borealos agreed to return the ground taken during the coup and allowed Novograd to reclaim the islands to the south, with provisions for BDF forces to assist in securing the ports and maintaining maritime security for both nations.
Black Bear Raider members who managed to remain in hiding were tracked down, arrested, and prosecuted for their crimes. The flight path of a civilian aircraft that left the airfield at the beginning of the assault, tracked by HMS Dauntless and Borealos radar assets, was handed over to Novograd military intelligence. It is believed the aircraft carried the two remaining generals of Dimitri Volkov. Fighters were scrambled, intercepted the plane, and forced it to land at a civilian airfield where Novograd Security Forces were waiting to arrest them.
With the remaining Whitewater members in possession of the RTG core, intelligence agencies from both Western and Eastern nations are scouring assets and channels for any information on the Whitewater members and the current whereabouts of the RTG core.