Obstacles & Fields of Fire. Merak is shaped by rocky coastal terrain, dense pine woods, scrubland, terraced fields, and scattered rural villages. Woods and stone-walled fields limit visibility to short–medium ranges, while farmland, hilltops, coastal roads, and the southern airfield provide longer sightlines but leave forces exposed. ch across villages, valleys, roads, and approaches to the airfield.
Avenues of Approach. Movement is restricted by narrow coastal roads, dirt tracks, stone walls, wooded ridges, and rough agricultural terrain. Vehicles are canalized onto predictable roads and village access points, making them vulnerable to ambush. Infantry can move through woods, fields, and ravines, but slowly.
Key Terrain. Critical areas include the southern airfield, village centers, road junctions, bridges, coastal routes, hilltop shrines, radio sites, and fortified civic buildings. Control of the airfield is decisive, as it remains the main entry point for reinforcements and evacuations.
Cover and Concealment. Concealment is abundant in pine forests, scrub, olive groves, stone-walled fields, and narrow streets. True cover is mostly limited to stone buildings, walled compounds, rocky terrain, and prepared positions. Villages offer the strongest defensive terrain.
Weather. Cloudy, no rain
Time and Light Conditions. TBD
Enemy Forces.
Size. Enemy forces are an irregular but organized militant force, roughly comparable to an under-resourced light infantry formation. They are concentrated around villages, religious sites, road junctions, former government buildings, and key infrastructure, supported by local knowledge, defected security personnel, and captured equipment.
Capabilities. Enemy fighters are armed primarily with AK-pattern rifles, pistols, older carbines, and abundant machine guns, with heavier support coming from RPGs, crew-served weapons, and vehicle-mounted guns. While most forces operate as light infantry, enemy forces have captured a limited number of heavier Russian/Soviet-era systems, including a small pool of T-72 tanks, several non-radar ZSU-23-4 Shilka systems, BRDM scout vehicles in enough quantity to support multiple maneuver elements, and a limited number of BTR-70 armored personnel carriers. Air capability is limited but present, consisting of a small fleet of captured Mi-8 helicopters, with some configured for transport and others armed for light fire support.
Recent Activity. Enemy forces have been consolidating control across captured towns by establishing checkpoints, roadblocks, and fortified positions around civic buildings, shrines, police stations, and village approaches. Movement between wooded areas, religious compounds, and hidden supply sites has increased.
Expected Course of Action. Enemy forces will likely avoid open conventional battle, relying instead on ambushes, fortified villages, chokepoints, and prepared strongpoints. Expect use of woods, stone walls, narrow roads, and civilian structures to delay advances, with close-range fighting centered around key settlements and Covenant-held infrastructure.
Friendly Forces
Higher Units. N/A
Adjacent Units. N/A
Supporting Units. N/A
Civilian Considerations. Civilian presence is not likely in the area. All civilians in military areas are assumed to be hostile and should be detained.
Attachments/Detachments. N/A
Mission.
The 10th Ranger Regiment has been tasked with assaulting a coastal region of Merak currently held by enemy forces. Ranger elements will strike key positions across the sector, including critical infrastructure, troop housing, command sites, and a fortified stronghold. Enemy quick reaction forces are expected to move from the north if the assault is detected or prolonged. Additionally, a high value enemy troop coordinator, Davor Kovačević, is likely to be inside the AO. Considering his value to the Covenant, he is expected to be heavily defended by any remaining armor pieces the Cult may possess.
POI001 is a large water treatment plant seized by enemy forces. The facility must remain usable after recapture, so explosive use is strictly forbidden unless absolutely necessary. Enemy forces are aware of an impending attack and have prepared mounted weaponry and fortifications around the plant.
POI002 is an abandoned village being used for enemy troop housing and sustainment. The village contains improvised barracks, storage areas, and concealed supplies. The site is to be cleared to disrupt enemy manpower flow in the sector.
POI003 is a hillside resort being used by enemy command elements as a planning and coordination site. Its elevation gives localized observation over nearby roads and approaches. Rangers must clear the site and seize enemy plans found inside.
POI004 is an island castle being used as a fortified enemy stronghold. Its stone construction, limited access points, and elevated defensive positions make it the hardest objective in the sector. Commander Davor Kovačević is most likely to be onsite of POI004 overseeing troop movements from the lighthouse.
The 10th Ranger Regiment will clear enemy positions, preserve the water treatment plant, capture or neutralize the HVI, and degrade enemy command and sustainment. Successful completion will restore access to key infrastructure and open the sector for follow-on operations.
Sustainment
Ammunition & Reinsertion will be provided by 160th SOAR assets or via ground ferry. No reinsertions will be brought in via teleportation, except for technical issues.
This operation is projected to have engagement distances less than 200 meters.
Operation Blackwater
Execute: 05/22/2026
Task Organization: 10RR
Subsets: NEPTUNE, TF APOLLO
The 10th Ranger Regiment has been tasked with assaulting a coastal region of Merak currently held by enemy forces. Ranger elements will strike key positions across the sector, including critical infrastructure, troop housing, command sites, and a fortified stronghold. Enemy quick reaction forces are expected to move from the north if the assault is detected or prolonged. Additionally, a high value enemy troop coordinator, Davor Kovačević, is likely to be inside the AO. Considering his value to the Covenant, he is expected to be heavily defended by any remaining armor pieces the Cult may possess.
POI001 is a large water treatment plant seized by enemy forces. The facility must remain usable after recapture, so explosive use is strictly forbidden unless absolutely necessary. Enemy forces are aware of an impending attack and have prepared mounted weaponry and fortifications around the plant.
POI002 is an abandoned village being used for enemy troop housing and sustainment. The village contains improvised barracks, storage areas, and concealed supplies. The site is to be cleared to disrupt enemy manpower flow in the sector.
POI003 is a hillside resort being used by enemy command elements as a planning and coordination site. Its elevation gives localized observation over nearby roads and approaches. Rangers must clear the site and seize enemy plans found inside.
POI004 is an island castle being used as a fortified enemy stronghold. Its stone construction, limited access points, and elevated defensive positions make it the hardest objective in the sector. Commander Davor Kovačević is most likely to be onsite of POI004 overseeing troop movements from the lighthouse.
The 10th Ranger Regiment will clear enemy positions, preserve the water treatment plant, capture or neutralize the HVI, and degrade enemy command and sustainment. Successful completion will restore access to key infrastructure and open the sector for follow-on operations.
I. Scorpion 3 (Zeus)
SIGNED,
Oliver, Cade
1LT,
S-3