On the weekend of August 10, a group of 17 players from New York Airsoft, including representatives of Evike.com attended John Lu's OP: Lightning Strike. NYC Airsoft members from New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York City drove as long as 8hrs, to play in an abandoned grain storage complex, downriver from Niagra Falls. Most of the NYC Airsoft players played the Federation Army lead by MSG. Mullen, with our senior member Primer, the designated XO.

Here are their stories:

OPLS AAR – Federation XO – Buffalo NY

The drive to the AO was long, it’s one of those drives you don’t look forward to after the game, but worth it because of how unique it was. I reached the AO around 1430hrs, it was a bustle with people loading guns, registering, chronoing, and setting up tents. This went on for a few hours and of course I had opted for camping too.   Around 1600hrs was a team briefing, and at this time I was challenged with the new position of XO. This was quite an honor, but I was very nervous about accepting the position. After the briefing we all headed to our respected places of sleep. 

Around 1600hrs was a team briefing, and at this time I was challenged with the new position of XO. This was quite an honor, but I was very nervous about accepting the position. After the briefing we all headed to our respected places of sleep.

Saturday

The next morning I rose at 0545 to ready my equipment for the days activities. 1SG asked us to be in full battle rattle at 0730, unfortunately, many of the Federation forces were rolling in and loading mags at 0745 so the first scenario was off to a slow start.

1. Our main objective was to capture a Chemical Lab in Building B5 and secure LS-4 and bring any ammunition crates out of all buildings. Unfortunately, Building B5 was outside of the Renegade Spawn which due proximity, could easily be reinforced. Needless to say, that lab was never seen by our forces.

Our second objective was to find engineers, scientists, and any other personnel and exfil them to our regen.

I had split the 3 platoons into smaller task forces sending 1-1 to LS-4 and 2 to the lab. 3 was to secure buildings B2-3. 

After a few hours, we had secured 1 engineer and a small weapons crate.

2. A chemical box full of the Antidote was placed at the top of building 5 and guarded by Militia. 1-2 was fighting the whole afternoon up through the floors trying to secure that box. 

2nd Platoon got their hands on a Mass grave site remnants as well as other squads carried out about 4 more ammunitions boxes (which apparently were never placed on the AO for the 1st scenario). 

3. This was more back and forth, and the back of LS-2 was huge firefight up a spiral staircase. It was close to the end of the game and the militia had sided with the Federation team as 3 scientists had popped out of Building 4. With only 1:30 left, 4 squads of Tan ran to intercept the scientists gaining last minute credit. 

4. After a long lunch, we went back fighting up hill and gathering more intel. Our S2s had provided us with very good intel, and it really helped us secure more personnel and munitions.

5. The night game was nerve-racking as we had pulled through the back of LS-2 and hit a large element of GMR which rolled through us like a hot knife through butter. No matter what opinions people have of that team, they work well together, like a well oiled machine.

After I regenerated, I was caught in a fire fight between the back of LS-2 and B4, consequently, I ran out of ammunition and had to pull my chemlight with only 10minutes left in the game.

Fortunately, Tan (I believe SCD’s Squad) had secured 4 HVTs.

Sunday

Woke up around 0615 this time, it wasn’t such an early day. Hit the ground running as there were many objectives that had to be achieved in a small amount of time. Our ranks had fallen by about 30%. We were overwhelmed by Renegade forces.

1. Our main objective was to secure 3 scientists and have them exfil to LS-4. At 1100hrs they would help launch rockets into LS-3 and LS-2 destroying the AO. I sent 1st and 2nd Platoons to find and secure them in Buildings B3 and B2. While 3rd Platoon ran distraction missions around the AO to keep Green away from the secured HVTs.  

At 1045 I had pulled 1 and 2 out of B3 and moved them to LS-4 to ready the rockets. The renegades were pushing up hard on our left flank as the HVTs secured the rockets launch and were EXFILed to a secure location at the water's edge.

At 1130 our platoons had broken squad cohesion and it was an all out fire fight to find the remaining munitions caches. At the end of the scenario, we acquired 4 more munitions crates and a chemical tube.

OP:LSIII was one of the most fun games I have attended this year, up with OP:RSE and OP:BS. Thanks to MSG Mullen for helping me along as a first time XO. Thanks to Plt Leaders 1, 2, and 3 for keeping great COMs.

Till next time.

Primer XO Federation Forces – Team VOA

Lynx's After Action Report

Meet up with MSG Mullen and the rest of the federation army. Quite a few were absent or still touring the AO. We had many holes in the chain of command during roll call. MSG improvised. This didnt take long, Powderkeg, Primer and I and several other members with the FA filled in the holes. I was designated 1st Platoon Leader and did not decline the order. Primer was designated XO and Powderkeg was designated 1st Sgt.

Three NYCAirsoft members. Leading the charge.

We learned a lot from MSG Mullen at Operation Lightning Strike III.

Lynxs Arsenal:

• S&T TAR-21 (New- Metal Gearbox Series) and a lot of magazines.
• 3 Thunder-Bs.

First Scenario was a pile of tactical objectives. Ranging from finding the chemical weapons- the meth lab- a .50 caliber machine gun that was attacking everything had to be taken out- capturing the labtechs to prevent using the weapons- ammo crates- everything. There was much close quarters combat within the large elevator (known as Launch Site 2) and at the rear between LS-2 and Building 4. 

It was a wild goose chase looking for the lab-techs and the lab. It was imperative to secure the lab so even if the Federation didn't get the lab techs, we would still deny the Renegades access to the facility. I was not a part of that fragmented mission. My Radio Transmission Operator (Brit) was at a slow start physically and lost track of him as I kept up a speedy pace going between squads. The first scenario was a communications mess, I must admit, and my radio wasn't on par with the higher frequency radios.

During this time, I had found myself negotiating terms with the militia members (one of many groups as I had revealed) that their nuclear reactor was to be secured, but not confiscated, by the Federation because we simply wanted to prevent the Renegades from turning it into a weapon. The negotiations were deemed a success by revealing more intel and gaining access to other parts of militia occupied buildings. Third platoon members were also a part of these tense negotiating talks.

As we wait for the scenario to come to a close, a surprise comes on the horizon in the alley. The entire lab-tech team runs out of Building 4 with various objects at hand. Spotting our clocks and the distance they were, we dashed for our final objective avoiding Renegade fire- retrieving the lab-techs. Supposedly throwing chemicals everywhere, one of the lab techs continues to bop me with a beaker claiming im dead while I continue to drag her to safety (you see my load out, I would not be dead) We had hold of these mad scientists as we ran for a final 10 seconds across essentially 200 ft of faith to get them to Regen. From how it looked, the final run was successful. Time completed? 1 minute- 38 seconds.

Communications improved by the second scenario onwards and had better control of my squads. We fought hard for LS-2 and the search for the ammo crates, fuel tanks and the dubbed "Orange Box" full of antidotes that we had to secure. Other objectives for the second scenario was finding intel on a mass-grave site and a downed UAV amongst other objectives. We did find quite a few ammo crates and fuel tanks but no orange box. The UAV and Mass Grave had been found though so 2 out of 3 major objectives were complete. Looking high and low, (and to almost to the tip top of each building in play) we did not find the orange box.

The Orange Box was then revealed afterwards to be at the top level of LS-2 (From what we were told from Staff). Myself and two other teammates walked the endless flights of stairs to just a floor below the objective. We had seriously shot ourselves in the foot for not going to the top floor (assuming that going up so far- there would be nothing).

COMS ARE LIVE: I inherit a higher frequency radio from my friend with headset.

The Third scenario was a search for a downed squad, extracting more ammo crates/ fuel tanks and rescuing a scientific team. The Orange box was still a factor, we could not find it despite more detailed intel about the Orange Box's location. But we still attacked the Renegades with much of our strength that was available that scenario. It was a tedious fight. Lots of fighting ensued between LS-2 and the rear of Building 4. Actually, the rear of the AO overall had bb's flying everywhere. I had continued to fight in this hairball until the ending of the scenario.

The Night Game (Scenario IV) was a search and rescue Op. Seven scientists were to be found and to be brought to Regen for extraction (possibly a continuation from Scenario 3?) And off the bat, as we walk to the corner of building 4, we spot 3 scientists running on the far side of LS-2. We made a mad dash to catch up to them and bring them back to Regen. This was a quick gig; 3 out of 7 individuals extracted, we weren't spotted by the Renegades (so I perceive as we saw them on the far side of the AO near Building 2) Things were in our favor. As the sun set, and the interiors of buildings got darker, flashlights were on, lasers were activated night vision was alive. Most of the firefights occurred in building 4. We had received intel prior to the fight that Renegade units were inside LS-2 immediately after we had dropped off the 3 scientists, we dug in and got ready for a skirmish inside. With its large pillars and open spaces, it was either to get down or get shot down in the dark. Without night vision, I took advantage of the loading dock by moving back and fourth down the dock, popping up sporadically and firing from different angles. Later in the scenario, one of the Federation teammates had recovered a 4th scientist. 4 out of 7 scientists recovered. By ratio, I had deemed the scenario a success. This was confirmed the next day by staff during our Op-Order for the 5th scenario that we had accomplished our mission last night.

The final scenario (Scenario V) was a final stand for the Federation Forces. Our objective was to find the engineers responsible for launching the missiles, any remaining ammo crates, fuel tanks and other important material to bring to the ex filtration site for evacuation. Our objective was a scorched Earth initiative. My platoon was responsible for finding the engineers, holding off the Renegades and securing the engineers at a point in the AO for 2 hours before being able to escort them to Launch Site-4, where the missiles were held.

After briefing 1st platoon, we led the way at the start. My platoon and I made a dash for Launch Site 1 where they were being held with a team of militia (who were on our side) and we quickly secured LS-1 and began the quick shift to moving into the adjacent building 2 to be held in. Within 5 minutes, we had successfully done our job, but now it was time to fend off the Renegades. The platoon militia and federation forces in the nearby area did just that- and successfully fended off the Opfor for a solid 2 hours while the other platoons were on a hunt for any final objectives hidden through out the AO and distracting the Renegades from invading Building 2. Many small firefights popped up between LS-1 and Building 2 for that some Renegade had made it on the bottom floor. But we continually held the fort.

5 to 10 minutes prior to scheduled leave, I received word from Primer that a large wave of Renegade was inbound to our position. Those renegade eventually hit our position and building 2 was beginning to be compromised. We made a hasty retreat and exfil from the rear of building 2 and was on our way to LS-4. As we stack up behind a building, we spot Renegade forces in LS-2 and we had no choice but to run to LS-4 across open space. After seeing people hesitating to run, the militia leader and I screamed and pushed the units and engineers to run and dash. We made it to LS-4 with minor casualties. More members of command caught up within minutes upon arriving at LS-4. We dug in and began defending various positions to halt the Renegade from taking the engineers. We waited patiently for the clock to strike for the objective to initiate and begin launching the missiles. Scorched Earth became a success.

The next shift in focus was to then get the engineers and any materials we found to the exfiltration site. This was a mess as well for that our Exfil site had changed twice in the scenario. My platoon was spread out and was tired of running to opposite ends of LS-4. After some extended firefights we eventually get to the proper exfil site to hold off against the Renegades. But as we left our backs open, the Renegades made a push for LS-4. I got hit inside LS-4 and made a mad dash for Regen to spawn again to hit the enemy where I found them. LS-4 was a maze on the inside and got several kills within minutes of going back into the site below. The firefight within LS-4 continued until the Renegades were pushed out(?) and we had gotten out in time for a second brief overview by MSG Mullen on what's left to be done after the exfil. From my standpoint, my gun was running out of battery power, my camera had died and my mags were low. I was more concerned on getting more kills by this point and making sure we could push back the Renegades where it was possible.

The firefights continued for another thirty minutes before the game officially ended.

Today the score between the factions was a dead tie between the Federation and the Renegades.

I would like to thank the chain of command (CO, XO, 1st Sgt and fellow Platoon Leaders) that I had become a part of for OPLS 2012. Powderkeg and Primer did a fantastic job keeping everyone focused on the mission. MSG Mullen had a focused objective and we stuck to it. We listened to him and what happened? We had very successful outcomes for the most part. Big thanks to Mad Max for this tactical insight and teachings through out the event. Big thanks to everyone's cooperation.

And a big shout out to those in 1st platoon who were under my command. I thank you for determination, tolerance and hard hitting attitude against the enemy through out the entire event. You all did a great job sticking it through most or all of the scenarios. Thinking outside the box when you we needed to. We hit them hard! March or Die!

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