07OCT2020

Summary
On 07 October, 2020 at approximately 0600, United States Midshipmen from 1st Squad, 1st Platoon, Charlie Company, accompanied by GSB attachés began a movement to contact to the Japanese Gardens region in the Sovereign Gardenian Republic. The squad had received reports of heavy CLF activity in the region. Local security forces had become completely overwhelmed by the CLF who had even begun kidnapping civilians involved with humanitarian aid and holding them for ransom.

Under the leadership of MIDN 1/C DeTulleo, the squad conducted a feint maneuver in their movement by bypassing the Japanese Gardens and circling around from the north. Intelligence reports later indicated that this maneuver greatly reduced the morale and combat capabilities of the CLF.

Upon arriving to the Japanese Gardens, the squad immediately began conducting offensive operations in order to rid the area of CLF presence and to allow the resumption of humanitarian activity. The MIDN suffered immense casualties during the heavy fighting and were at one point reduced to as little as 40 percent combat effectiveness. During several engagements, the CLF were seen setting up complex ambushes and luring MIDN into kill zones by using other wounded MIDN as bait.

In an After Action Report MIDN 3/C Bright, a Fire team leader that day reported, "We did not expect the enemy to fight with such ferocity. This operation has made it clear that the CLF are learning and actively improving their tactics. It is imperative that we respond with overwhelming force to nip this problem in the bud before this fire grows out of control."

As the second, and so far most intense operation of this rotational period, this operation should be seen as an ominous indication of the escalating nature of the war.

Operational Media
[Forthcoming]