Operation Indigo Hand
Summary
Operation Indigo Hand was a joint operation executed by Omeras Gas Extraction and Meniscus Xanissaries against the Juno contingent of the Burning Torch - Pirate Group, a pirate group that had been extorting and raiding Omeras.
The operation took place on Demerza, a moon of the planet Tyra, in the Juno heliosphere.
The goal of the operation was to demoralize the Burning Torch members in Juno and convince them to cease raids on Omeras by killing their leader, Yumala Ghet.
Background
For over two years, the pirate group Burning Torch had been raiding gas mining operations around Tyra, a gas giant in the Juno heliosphere. The chief gas mining operator, Omeras Gas Extraction, had increased security several times, but this only escalated the attacks from Burning Torch and caused significant collateral damage to Omeras facilities.
After a particularly destructive raid, Omeras reached out to the Burning Torch through black market intermediaries to set up a meeting to discuss protection. According to unconfirmed reports, Omeras’ initial proposal offered Burning Torch 9.5% of its net profits in exchange for ceasing all raids.
Planning and Preparation / Prelude
After the Burning Torch agreed to meet representatives of Omeras, the gas miner’s security wing reached out to Meniscus Xanissaries, a Pact-affiliated force sympathetic to Omeras’ troubles. The Xanissaries suggested staging the meeting on Demerza, a small moon orbiting Tyra.
Ahead of the meet, Meniscus Xanissaries forces created “blinds” made of camouflaged Crygon sheets, where they stationed their forces in preparation for an ambush. When Burning Torch reconnoitered the moon, these blinds were able to disguise the presence of Xannisary Amaroq zeos and their accompanying teamsters from radar, infrared, and visual scans.
Operation
Phase 1
The representatives of the Burning Torch and Omeras arrived at the meeting place, a small plain surrounded by meteoric impact craters, at solar dawn. Both sides brought along significant security details, including Rakke and Kulaq zeos. The Meniscus Xanissaries were stationed to the north and south of the meeting points, on the inside of the craters.
As the meeting began, Omeras security personnel became aware that a Burning Torch ship was loitering in the upper atmosphere. Preliminary scans revealed that it was capable of dropping automated turrets and zeos.
When Omeras requested that the dropship leave the atmosphere, the Burning Torch representative refused to give the order until a deal was reached. Tensions rose between the delegations, and a weapon drawn by a Burning Torch security officer led to the Omeras representative initiating the ambush.
Phase 2
The Meniscus Xanissaries emerged from the blinds and rapidly advanced toward the meeting point from the north and south. Group A advanced toward the Burning Torch landing ship, seeking to seize it to cut off any escape. Group B moved toward the Burning Torch delegation, focusing their fire on the pirates’ Kulaq zeos.
In response, the Burning Torch dropship deployed two automated turrets close to the meeting point, as well as an ‘Amaroq zeo, which landed to the east side of the meeting point.
A series of fierce, close-range firefights ensued between the two delegations, the Meniscus Xanissaries, and the Burning Torch reinforcements. The majority of the Omeras delegation was wiped out by the Kulaq zeos and its leader was captured. The Burning Torch forces hastily moved to the landing ship with their captive in tow, enduring heavy fire from the Meniscus Xanissaries. Their attempt at escape was foiled by Group B, which managed to destroy the landing ship with a demolition charge.
In the end, a pincer movement by elements of Groups A and B was able to rescue the Omeras representative and completely wipe out the Burning Torch delegation. This was followed by a last-minute extraction by Meniscus Xanissary transport. Soon after, the area was saturation-bombed by the Burning Torch dropship.
Aftermath
The intervention of the Meniscus Xanissaries sowed doubt among the Burning Torch leadership, which had judged Omeras to be financially destitute and unwilling to escalate the conflict. At the same time, the death of Captain Yumala Ghet demoralized local Burning Torch associates, who relied on her reputation for mercilessness to intimidate extortion targets.
In retaliation, the Burning Torch launched a cursory raid on lightly defended Omeras gas storage facilities, destroying a few inoperable areas slated for repair. After the raid, Burning Torch leadership privately announced that Omeras Gas Extraction was now off-limits to raids or extortion.
Political Consequences
Omeras’ stand against the Burning Torch was cited as an inflection point by a number of independent commercial operators within the Juno heliosphere, who rapidly formed a loose coalition to oppose the pirates’ extortion.
The Meniscus Xanissaries enthusiastically embraced more opportunities to take Burning Torch trophies, and offered their assistance at reduced prices, leading most major Burning Torch bands to temporarily retreat from the Juno heliosphere.
