After Action Report: FD-13/SRS

On 11 kuratorien the Frankonian Division of the SRS sailing with AN/SA0-ARN-UR ('Swift Mermaid') received intelligence of a recondite temple located on the central eastern shore of the Stavigian continent. It was agreed that a limited expedition to the location was warranted. An ad hoc tactical group, Panther,¹ was formed. The personal account of the officer-on-site and a tactical evaluation are appended in supplement I and II.
 
As an extraterritorial mission, no formal chain of command was observed, nor were standard protocols. Panther disembarked from the Swift Mermaid on 12 kuratorien 2397.
 
The provisional objectives of Panther were to:

A. establish a local presence and identify potential hostile targets.

B. scout out the marked temple.

C. clear and secure the interior and exterior temple area.

D. recover items of strategic interest.

E. exfiltrate via rowboat to the Swift Mermaid.

 
12 kuratorien: A concealed camp was established fifteen kilometres east of the temple at 1800J hours. An attempt by Panther-2 to provide a subtle means of reconnaissance was unsuccessful.
 
13 kuratorien: At 0615J hours, Panther made the journey westwards to the temple. Upon arrival at 0915J hours, two teams, Avatar Element (Panther-2 and Panther-3) and Rainbow Element (Panther-1 and Panther-4), were created to cover the entrance and outskirts of the temple. None of the teams encountered any resistance at this point in time. Avatar Element made note of the various bones that were decorated in an organised fashion at the entrance. Upon regrouping at 0950J hours, both elements of Panther entered the temple. A statuette of a serpent was seized shortly after entry. Three female C-type-LV humanoids were sighted at around 0955J hours. After a host of other C-type serpentoids were sighted, Avatar Element decided to approach them diplomatically whilst Rainbow Element remained concealed. At around 1020J hours, Avatar Element decided to engage a number of hostiles, including the local commander. During the first skirmish, seven hostiles were killed in action, whilst three hostiles committed suicide after Panther-1 eliminated an abormally large six-headed C-type serpentoid. The local commander retreated from the premises after failing to bring down Panther-3. During the confusion, Panther-2 managed to recover a written order intended for the local commander. When the first skirmish had subsided at around 1022J hours, although sustaining significant injuries, both Panther-1 and Panther-3 decided to establish a perimeter around the point of contact. One additional hostile was killed in action by Panther-1 during this but the enemy managed to regroup quickly and Panther retreated in an orderly manner from the temple. The enemy gave chase, and Panther managed to reach the camp at around 1555J hours. After discovering that the enemy had managed to track them down, Panther exfiltrated to the Swift Mermaid. During the way to the Swift Mermaid, Panther-3 took the statuette from Panther-1 and discovered that the large serpentoids seemed to relent upon making direct visual contact with it.
 
14 kuratorien: After recuperation and deliberation, Panther, now reinforced with Panther 3-1, set ashore at 0800J hours. Panther 3-1 secured a new camp, and a new ad hoc team, Oxide Element (Panther-1, Panther-2, and Panther 3-1) set out to clandestinely chart out the remnants of the temple whilst a rear guard, Hercules Element (Panther-3 and Panther-4), stayed behind. Oxide Element successfully charted the temple, but were compromised by a gargantuan six-headed serpentoid and had to speedily exfiltrate. During the pursuit, another of the same type of serpentoid joined in. Panther-1 used the statuette and it had an inhibiting effect on the creatures; however, it could only affect one of them at a time. At around 1030J hours, Panther-2 was instructed to go ahead and inform Hercules Element of the situation, and shortly afterwards Panther-1 put the statuette on the ground, leaving one of the serpentoids immobile, and led the remaining creature to the outskirts of the camp. At around 1100J hours, the second skirmish commenced. Another serpentoid joined mid-battle, but ultimately, the two were killed in action. It was after discovered that the immobile serpentoid seemed to have broken the statuette's effect and returned to the temple with it. After regrouping at 1105J hours, a forward ad hoc reconnaissance team, Concord Element (Panther-1 and Panther-2), went to the edge of the jungle to maintain visual of the temple's entrance and make note of any irregularities. Concord Element was joined by Hercules Element shortly before midnight.
 
15 kuratorien: At around 0015J hours, the temple was breached by Panther. The entry room was guarded by three serpentoids: one large six-headed and two smaller snakes. One of the small snakes made notice of the entry, and though it was dispatched quickly, it managed to alert the others. The other two were killed in action. Panther decided to exfiltrate after another six-headed serpentoid showed up. At around 0300J hours, the camp was reached, and Panther reunited with the Swift Mermaid about thirty minutes afterwards.
 
FINAL TABULATION:²

Total friendly strength: 5

Friendly losses: none

Estimated hostile strength: 25-30

Hostiles killed in action: 16

 

 

 

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¹ The initial roster of Panther is detailed in FD-10. Panther 3-1 is described in appendix I.

² A supernormal artifact designated ZS/SA4-EL bolstered Panther's numbers significantly, though it was temporary and only affected the first skirmish. Consult the related report for further details.