User:144-Patient Appelant/Operation: STEEL-TOE

Operation: STEEL-TOE was a military operation taking place above and on the Thanix Assimilation colony of TAMC-B09. The objective of this mission was to destroy the heart of the Thanix military base located on TAMC-B09. This mission was conservatively considered highly-dangerous and overall considered to be suicidal; that is why it was assigned to Black Squadron of the UGA Armored Corps.

Deployment
Black Squadron was deployed just above TAMC-B09 due to the fact that heavy anti-air defenses restricted UGA forces from landing on the surface. Unlike Operation: HIDE AND SEEK, this was no low-profile mission. While Black Squadron was deployed, the UGA fleet that carried them to the colony engaged the orbital defenses of TAMC-B09. Upon exiting their TOEI Pods in mid-drop, Black Squadron had to maneuver passed orbital mines and heavy AA fire. They were also forced to engage fast-moving Interceptor Drones. It didn't take long for the skilled exoskeleton pilots of Black Squadron to reach the surface safely.

First Objective
Soon after landing on TAMC-B09, Black Squadron needed to quickly neutralize the Anti-Air defenses so that reinforcements could make it to the surface if needed. Jin Li led his squad particularly well for someone lacking so much information about the combat zone. His adaptability and heightened reflexes allowed the team to get to it's first Defense Hub. These hubs powered and controlled all anti-air batteries within a five mile radius; destroying enough of them made it possible for reinforcements to come at any time. Unfortunately, Black Squadron's activity spurred a large response from Thanix ground forces.

Second Objective
Black Squadrons second objective was to cut all Thanix communications by destroying the numerous signal towers across the main colonial center. This task may sound easy but the large number of anti-armor forces and Praetorians that the Thanix had stationed there was almost overwhelming. Things only became worse when Terminus Legion arrived and intercepted Black Squadron. Terminus Legion was led by Captain Hxuyek and Jin also recognized a very familiar Praetorian; 028-Epsilon. Jin, and Nigel Wood engaged Terminus Legion while the rest of Black Squadron blasted down the communications towers. Upon the destruction of these towers, the Thanix orbital defense units were in complete disarray as all communications were cut and many drone signals were lost.

Third Objective
With the defenses weakened and very little chance of major Thanix reinforcements arriving, Black Squadron moved to it's final and main objective; destroying the high-priority base. UGA reinforcements had arrived on TAMC-B09 by now and the colony had been engulfed by combat. Jin was still preoccupied with Epsilon and Nigel had just managed to destroy Hxuyek and many of his followers. When Nigel attempted to assist Jin, Epsilon quickly decapitated the soldier and escaped. Though Jin gave chase, he was unable to keep up with the machine and was forced to rendezvous with the rest of his squadron for extraction.

Result
TAMC-B09 was the location of many newly-manufactured Praetorians, tanks, and newly-trained infantry regiments. It was also the location of multiple shipyards and a few drone factories. When it was destroyed by Black Squadron and the UGA, much of their military force in that region of space had been crippled. The loss of the base also opened the gateway into known Thanix territory.