Publisher: CX-X Canik
May 15th, 2020

 

Editor's Note:

 

     Hello everyone, and thank you for reading our second Official War Report! This past weekend we started our Stend IV Campaign, involving foes such as the nefarious CIS and the criminal masterminds of the Black Suns Crime Syndicate. We experimented with our article this week, including some forms of commentary, and tampering with how we write our articles. Feel free, as always, to let us know what looks good and what doesn't. Being our second week of the War Correspondent program going live, we still have a lot of kinks to work out, but are working hard to provide you with content related to what you all have been doing in game during the campaign.

 Our next goal is to provide you with more color in these articles in the form of in-game screen shots. For the sake of content, if you have cool screen shots taken in game during these Operations and FTXs, feel free to submit them in #news-open on the discord, or via PM to myself (CX-X Canik). We also would like to showcase a short and sweet recap video created by CM Target! He has agreed to join us in the News Team in order to further these videos that can be published in tandem with our War Cor Recap Articles. Keep an eye out for them!

 

 

 

  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Fortunate Sun

501st Platoon Operations

For Week of 5/15-17

 
 
 
 
 
 

 

Introduction

 

 

    A world clouded in darkness, the landscape of Stend IV is dominated by primarily swamplands and trees for as far as the eye can see. Its lands, shrouded under the canopy of trees and cloud cover conceal one of the galaxy’s foulest worlds. The Republic’s own 501st would find themselves descending upon the breeding grounds for the greatest scum the Republic has ever seen, the Black Sun syndicate. Join us as we delve in to the first reports to come straight from the front, as our troopers dig through the filth littered forests and crime-ridden cities. Their foes, more Man than machine, would be pitted against the Republic’s finest. Only the gifts of strength and courage bestowed upon them by the training they’ve endured over the years will allow the Legion to triumph today.

 

 

 

 

 

Operation “Isengard”

Avalanche Co. 1st Platoon

  

  

   Keeping the waves of Confederate machinery at bay was the main concern of the Legion’s troopers, but keeping order throughout the galaxy was the Republic’s concern. Their warriors turned peacekeepers would need to meet both the generals and senators halfway. The full might of Avalanche Company would descend upon the harsh features of Stend IV. With 1st Platoon at the vanguard, and Lieutenant Point at the helm. The Company’s spearhead would make landfall just short of their first point of interest, “Cougar”. Before this however, the area would need to be cleansed, and Point knew just the Detachment.

 

    The initial volley of blistering energy made its way in brilliant streaks across the night sky. Searing energy bore holes through the dense fog and the hillsides were devastated. Trees and smaller plants alike faced annihilation, being uprooted from their resting places as glowing rock deformed into craters. Mynock’s bombardment was incessant, and the fire they rained seemed unending. Just as the roar of their guns had begun to die down, the whine of engines began to pick up. Taking advantage of the blitz provided by Mynock’s batteries, 1st Platoon’s ‘Shock and Awe’ operation was well underway. From here on out, it would fall upon the shoulders of 1st Flight, of the Razor Squadron to shuttle the Legion’s men to their landing zone.

 

    Crimson strands of plasma hurled past the noses of their craft as the assault transports drew closer to their drop sites. Glancing hits and close calls forced the pilot’s hand, and the area was deemed fit for an additional fire mission. The gunships made way for another shelling, which left nothing in its wake. Stend IV’s garrison would be at the mercy of their guns, and just for a moment, the planet seemed to buckle under the intensive shelling. Finally, a second pass was authorized and the platoon’s fight through the jungle could begin.

 

    Skirmishing broke out amongst the squads from the onset of their assault, the Black Suns were hired killers who fought for their warlords, they were well equipped and had maintained a strong grip on their sectors of galactic space for ages. However while the gangsters fought for their leaders out of fear, our infantrymen fought for something greater than them, they fought for the Republic. As both alien and clone fell victim to bolts of plasma cast across the forest floor, it became clear rather quickly that Point intended to hold his ground. 3rd and 4th Squad made their stand at Landing Zone Shakira, refusing to falter under the mercenary’s attack. Sergeants Shape and Jupiter rallied the two squads under the dire conditions, and pressed onward.

 

    Stolen Republic guns found themselves being turned on their rightful users, and the 1st found themselves under an intensive bombardment yet again. Every proton bomb and mortar at the Black Sun’s disposal was slung down-range towards the Republic’s vanguard, leaving them no choice but to advance. The battle for Point Cougar left countless dead or wounded, yet the Republic had come out on top of the mercenaries. With Point Cougar under their control, the entirety of 1st began their advance to Point Jaguar. They trekked past the worst that Stend IV had to offer, the jungles offered many advantageous spots for the Black Suns to interfere with squad formations, and interfere they did.

 

    Durasteel-tipped MAAWS rounds greeted the weary platoon, accompanied by a hearty count of Confederate air support. The Independent Systems made their involvement clear, sending an assortment of support to the Black Suns aid. The 1st found its footing quickly and the platoon’s squads sprung into action, fanning out across the treeline as they hit Point Jaguar. Fog-filled skies were burnt away by the scarlet lances of energy shooting out from every dugout and bunker the Black Suns could cram their men into. Vibrant lavender-lit torpedoes sunk their way into squad formations, testing the platoon’s resolve to press their attack. The garrison at Jaguar soon followed suit as the defenders of Point Cougar. The position was overtaken by Avalanche’s spearhead, which brought their forces to bear down on their third and final task, Point Boa.

 

    A rifleman’s bane, the tracked monsters known by all for their endurance, tanks. Confederate armor plowed through the underbrush surrounding Boa. Their approach was picked up far before they rolled into view, yet rose-colored bolts from their cannons were still the first to make contact with the platoon. Plasma-scorched trunks were all that the Platoon could rally behind, the volume of fire suppressing all of the infantrymen before the Separatist Scorpions. Sergeant Jupiter motioned for his rocketmen, flagging a few down and sending them off to the armored section’s flanks. Guided munitions sailed past the platoon, finding purchase on the hull plating of the Confederate tanks. Detonations rang out across the jungle and the blaster fire died down yet again, replaced by the crooked whirring of broken-down machinery.

 

    With the Black Suns’ last trick played, Point and the 1st crept out onto Point Boa, seemingly uncontested. The fighting came to a close, and not a single trooper had fallen in the final attack. The platoon shored up a defensive line and dug in for the long week ahead of them, signalling the end of Operation “Isengard”.

 

 

 

 

 

Operation “Gone Fishing”

Avalanche Co. 2nd Platoon

  

  

   Pitted against the galaxy’s lowest, Pompano and the 2nd would undertake the long and arduous process of rooting out and destroying the mercenaries, starting at the stem. Flanked on three sides by waterways and a forested hillside that dominated its northern face, Objective Gharial housed the Black Suns’ base of operations on Stend IV. Ample defensive positions and vulnerable supplies provided the 2nd Platoon with a prime target, which they were swift to pick up on. As daylight broke out over the horizon, the Republic’s gunships kissed the clouds and descended upon the unsuspecting Confederate mercenaries.

 

    The area surrounding landing zone “Yellowfin” was hardly contested, with stiff branches putting up more resistance than Separatist defenders which were absent at the time and nowhere to be seen. Without a welcoming party ready for the 2nd, their squads hastily closed the distance between them and the walls of Gharial. 1st and 2nd Squad wasted no time moving through the dense jungle that overlooked the Black Suns’ base. Not a single soul caught wind of their approach, and they would keep it that way until they settled into well-selected overwatch positions. Despite the 1st and 2nd Squad’s success in navigating around hostile patrols, 3rd and 4th would be the first to spring the Black Suns’ trap. Like a wolf into the lion’s jaws, the unsuspecting mercenary patrol that came to bear down on the infantrymen were well-received by ionized bolts of energy. Cobalt beams found their targets in the early morning, leaving bodies in the wake of 3rd and 4th Squad.  With the bandits laid to rest in their trail, the two squads made haste towards their designated areas. The fight that had played out before them, unbeknownst to them, would provide the Confederacy with enough time to lay a trap to ensnare 1st and 2nd Squad. 

 

    With dawn well underway, Stend IV was brought into full light before Pompano and his men. An uneasy period of downtime went by before the platoon was ready for the next step in their plan. Though as soon as 2nd Platoon’s command staff began drafting up the next set of plans, the Separatists made their move. Sapphire stained streaks of energy snaked their way towards the platoon. Blasterfire riddled the two elements from all sides, keeping them firmly in place with nowhere to run. To make matters worse, the ambush was given enough time to coordinate with an artillery battery in the area. With their pieces sighted on Avalanche’s position, velvet-encased proton rounds were sent down-range. Shells hurled past the tree canopy and found themselves burrowing craters into the vicinity of 2nd Platoon’s position. Confederate battle droids pounced on the suppressed infantrymen, rapidly closing the already thinning gap between them and Pompano’s HQ Element. The unrelenting attack showed no signs of letting up, putting the Sergeant Major and his men in increasing danger of being routed. But as disaster seemed to crest the horizon, a new light outshined it. The Platoon’s Krayt liaison, Korvus, was present throughout the fight. The stars seemed to align in the moment for him, and when the situation grew dire there was no other option left for him but to fight. With a burning tenacity he drew fire from every corner of the jungle, laying waste to any artificial soldier he encountered. Waves of azure-tinted energy ebbed and flowed across the many fields of fire that his Z6 Rotary Gun could reach. The distraction bought the 2nd much-needed time, and they were quick to capitalize on the trooper’s efforts. The Platoon’s command element was able to mount a successful retreat, accepting that the odds were stacked against them unless they could devise a better plan. The Platoon seemingly vanished back into the underbrush, as both sides went about licking their wounds.

 

    With a rallied platoon at its back, HQ ordered a full advance on an enemy held town to the north. Harassed by heavy engagements, 2-2 was masscassed into submission. However, in the chaos, the 2nd platoon dutifully noted the relocation of Civilian and high value targets out of the operation area. Fighting tooth and nail, street by street, 2nd platoon eventually was able to rally and bring the Black Suns’ base into its control.. It was then however, that the mercenaries and their Confederate advisors threw an underhanded blow at the Republic. Employing one of their own troop carriers in a low-level raid to wreak havoc throughout Avalanche’s positions. Once the raid had been extinguished, and the casualties had been resolved, an intercommunicator from 2nd Platoon got a hold of a gunship via his radio. A few lines of clarification later and the troop carrier was blown off the face of Stend IV by assault transports from Razor’s 2nd Flight.

 

    With Objective Gharial secured, and the Black Suns’ main operating base under the new management of the 501st Legion, 2nd Platoon’s task was complete. The already battered defensive positions were once again manned by a new set of defenders, and the garrison looked onwards at a neighboring Confederate forward operating base. The Independent Systems had made their presence clear on Stend IV, and the base’s heavy fortifications were all but clear indicators of a siege that would take place during the inevitable assault. For now though, they simply looked on, and thought of the wars to come.

 

 

 

 

 

Operation “Kingfisher”

Avalanche Co. 3rd Platoon

  

  

   In order for the risky assault on Stend IV to be successful, the Company would have to do some tidy work around their Operating Base. The Black Suns had made a point of deploying stolen Republic assets against Avalanche, and Lieutenant Andromeda would be tasked with overseeing the end of these tricks. With Andromeda at 3rd Platoon’s helm, the many squads comprising the 3rd were sent barreling southward from their forward base towards possible Black Suns strongholds. The safeguarding of the Republic’s forward base on Stend IV was of the utmost importance to the planetary campaign. Its garrison was capable of projecting the Legion’s power over a vast stretch of land in every direction, proving itself a vital asset to the 501st’s own Hailstorm Battalion.

 

    By mid-day, the Lieutenant and his teams were making great headway into the jungles surrounding the forward base. Huge swaths of forest were carefully sweeped by large maneuver teams. The forest seemed to crawl to a standstill, the 3rd drew closer to their first point of interest, “Bobcat”. As the Lieutenant crept his forces along the northern face of Point Bobcat their objective came into full view. 3rd Platoon’s command staff were swift in tasking their elements, and within minutes the platoon shifted to meet the mercenaries head-on. Corporals Muzzer and Twine of 1st and 2nd Squad respectively, would take charge of teams skirting along the western face of the objective. With Twine and 2nd Squad at Muzzer’s back, the element ebbed closer to Point Bobcat. Flanking the objective from its opposite side, 3rd and 4th Squad shored up fighting positions in preparation for a two pronged assault, the perimeter of Point Bobcat almost entirely enveloped in Republic lines at this point. Finally, the Republic made their move, and the forests surrounding Point Bobcat lit up with a blinding assault from both its flanks. Just when 3rd Platoon began to close the distance to the enemy garrison, a new foe came into their sights to oppose them.

  

    Offworlders and hired contractors blitzed the unsuspecting platoon. The absence of battle droids dealt a crippling blow to the infantrymen, who were not well accustomed to combat with organics. Casualties began to mount, and the unfamiliar feeling of distress began to set in. Emerald and sapphire bolts of energy dotted the Republic positions, lumbering trees splintered and broke away at the sheer force of the mercenaries’ assault. The body count started to climb, but the platoon dug itself in and strengthened their resolve, unwavering in light of the new challenge. The scenes blurred together, and alien bodies were piled high well before the fight began to come to a close. Finally at the battle’s end, Point Bobcat had successfully been wrangled under 3rd Platoon’s control. Andromeda wasted no time, organizing the next advance across one of Stend IV’s many rivers. If the platoon’s sweep of the neighboring sectors was to be successful, the 3rd would need to stage a successful river crossing. 

  

    On the final leg of their push, Sergeant Major Drammon mustered an element of 3rd Platoon, leading an attack on the Platoon’s next objective, Point “Milk”. Their advance was met with barely any resistance, and their teams made short work of the defenders present. Sporadic contact throughout the lowlands began to die out, and Point Milk was under Avalanche’s control. With their spirits high, and their success leaving dozens of hired guns dead in the mud, Point “Caiman” was the next and final task at hand for Andromeda and his men. The lieutenant took advantage of dividing his force yet again, pressing a two-pronged attack on the flanks of the Black Suns-held objective. Kaminoan-bred warriors descended from the east and west, encircling the backworld criminals. A familiar drone of starship engines buzzed the platoon, and the disc-shaped troop carriers of the Confederacy came into full-view. The droid gunships were not to be trifled with, yet their reputation would suffer a blow today. Guided munitions sailed skywards, leaving thick plumes of smoke as they burrowed into Separatist machinery. Rocketeers made quick work of the remaining transports, and the gunships careened towards the ground. The platoon left nothing but heaps of scrapped Separatist property behind them, charred droids marking where the Independent Systems faltered, and the Republic triumphed. In addition to 3rd’s pincer move, Clone Intercommunicators signalled for an additional fire mission from the Mynock section present at the time. Artillery snaked its way through the clouds and uprooted the defenders at Point Caiman. Tossing both man and machine from their fighting positions. When the smoke had cleared, a derelict objective was all that remained, with the area under the Republic’s control. The 3rd mustered their squads by Caiman, and let out a well needed sigh of relief.

 

 

 

 

 

Operation “Blood Trail”

Avalanche Co. 4th Platoon

   

  

   Bursting into the atmosphere, the (Acclamator name here) came forth over the planet of Stend IV. The forward momentum thrusters easing to a dull rumble, silence came about the open deck of the Acclimator, clearing the way for Sergeant Major Drifter to relay the mission objectives given to 4th Platoon. Razor pilots scrambled to their LAATs, making final checks with the Petty Officers of the Warden Detachment to ensure all of the aircraft were fully operational. Shortly after the briefing ends, the squads hastily reach their assigned LAATs, boarding and making final mental preparations for the battle that is to ensue.

 

“Razor, Tower. You are cleared to depart downwind. Safe Flight.”

 

    The growing whine of the Republic’s assault transports precursored the jolt as they lifted from the ground and moved to formation. The troopers of 4th Platoon braced themselves for the impulse. During the flight to the ground, a strange tune about a fortunate one played over the intercoms of the LAATs, pumping the spirits of 4th Platoon. With a jolt, the aircraft landed on the surface, and the tunes dimmed, the intercom coming to life. “Dismount! Dismount!” Disembarking, the squads each formed a security detail encircling the craft until it departed, tasked with their own objectives. The dust cleared from the landing zone, and so began Phase 1 of the Operation.

 

“1st Squad, 2nd Squad, move out!”

 

    The jungle’s varying density made maneuvering difficult, but the first two squads of 4th Platoon moved anyway. Encountering a few B1 and Spec Op droids, they were eventually able to stage and begin the assault onto their first objective, POI Cheetah. Cheetah was a fortified outpost, its defenses consisting of trenches and barricades in a futile attempt to provide adequate cover against the mighty 4th. Occupying the outpost were a mix of B1s, B2 Super Battledroids, Droidekas, and Dwarf Spider Droids. “Lerooooooooooy! Jeeeeeenkiiiiiins!” shouted one of the troopers, who almost immediately fell to the blaster fire of the machines that were not programmed to appreciate such ancient jokes from an era long in the past. Smoke began to fill the air as the Dwarf Spider Droids were destroyed one by one. Despite the enemy popping up from the tall grass, shotgun blasters firing away, and the heavy fight from the droids whose intent was to not give the mighty 4th their outpost, 1st and 2nd squad were eventually able to secure the area. The CIS engaged them again with counter attacks from all sides, pre-dominately from the south and north, utilizing a plethora of force multipliers. However, despite the Hyena Bombers, the B2s, and all the machinery the CIS could throw at them, their efforts were thwarted by the steady aim of 4th Platoon’s 1st and 2nd squads. Razor rained plasma from the skies, filling the land surrounding the outpost with explosions and destruction. At last, the outpost was now under Republic control under a mighty grip.

 

“4th Squad, get a move on! We need overwatch now!”

 

    As the battle raged for Outpost Cheetah, to the south 3rd and 4th Squads faced similar hardships. Their task, securing POI Puma (a set of structures being used by the scum of the Black Suns), was literally an uphill fight. Pushing through the jungle vines dangling from the exotic trees, 3rd Squad began it’s assault of Outpost Puma. Blaster fire filled the space between the squad and the outpost as the members of 3rd Squad forced their way up the hill. As they fought on, 4th Squad continued along the side of the hill towards their overwatch point. As the sound of violence raged to their south at Outpost Puma, they quickened their pace. Their purpose at this phase of the Operation was to hold off any potential QRF forces that may be called for at Outpost Puma. Just as quickly as it had begun, the sounds of war dimmed. Phase 1 was complete.

 

    As the squads of 4th Platoon were landing at their new area of operations, they were met with silence. An eerie feeling crept along their skin, amplified by the sounds of the unknown within the jungle landscape. But like all good clones, they were to follow orders, no matter their feelings. The troops began their next move. 1st and 2nd Squads were moving to POI Ocelot, a compound holding a hundred or so enslaved prisoners, captured by members of the Black Suns. 3rd and 4th Squads were tasked to assault POI Perch, an advantageous position that allowed for a constant observation and the potential for interference of any CIS response forces that may push up the river during the rescue operations at Ocelot. 

 

“Get to the prisoners!”

 

    1st and 2nd Squads found themselves ambushed while en route to their objective. Fire came from their flanks, and the Z6 blasters pelted the jungle walls in response. The squads drudged through the muck, despite the resistance each step bore. The intensity of the fight only increased as they reached closer to the prison. Between the CIS machines of war, and the enginuity and cunning of the Black Suns, crossing the shallow marsh into the prison compound was not without heavy losses. 3rd and 4th Squads encountered similar push backs, but were able to secure Perch. 4th Platoon’s efforts saved almost 100 prisoners being held by the Black Suns, however they could not move on to Phase 3, where they would create a defensive line in order to hold all ground they secured. In a final attempt to cause as much damage as possible to the Black Suns, Razor was cleared to bombard the objectives, ensuring the enemy could not retake them as the advantageous positions they were 

 

 

 

 

 

Aftermath

 

 

 

The initial deployment to Stend IV was not without its troubles. A common topic in debrief among the platoons was spacing. While some did not have real issues with the spacing between troopers, for others it pre-ambled tragic losses. In a war of ranged fire, distance is your friend in every way. A safe distance prevents massive casualties during prolonged artillery engagements, as well as allows for a more organized travel in its own way. 

  

Understandably, this planet's surface has proven difficult to maneuver, what with its jungle-esque features and abundances of flowing streams and rivers. Another hot topic was platoon movements. Whether squads are moving to their next objective, or preparing for an extraction, we must remember to always keep our feet moving, and our mind focused on our formations and the situation around us. Delays can always be expected, but by expecting them, you can best prepare to keep moving through them.

  

The Black Suns have proven their cunning, and the dirtiness they are will to force us to endure. But, like all good soldiers, we follow orders and endure anyways. Good luck on your next deployments, and we’ll see you all next week with the next cycle’s recap! 

 

 

 

_{Publisher: CX-X Canik
Assistant Publisher: CT Momentum}

_{Chief War Correspondent: CP Swanny
War Correspondents: CW Super, CI-C Bastil, CS-M Drammon, CP Muzzer
Recap Article written by: CX-X Shnuffles, CX-W Rive, CT Momentum, CX-X Canik
Graphic Designers: CS Jupiter, CT Dragon}

Publisher: CX-X Canik
May 22nd, 2020

 

Editor's Note:

    Hello everyone, and thank you for reading the 501st Newsletter, Issue #41! Recently, we posted an announcement for a recruitment drive in the Official 501st Discord. Previously we were looking for Newsletter Correspondents and War Correspondents. This time we are looking for some creative thinkers to join the Journalist side of the team in order to help bring you guys quality articles to read. In addition, a few changes were made within the News Team, including the compression of our two journalist teams into one (with the hopes that we can focus our efforts in standardizing our quality), additions to our War Correspondents (with positions always open, especially with the newest expansions), as well as a start on some new project ideas (including CM Target's quick recap video of the previous weekend of campaigning). 

 

    We appreciate your continued loyalty to our content, and encourage suggestions and ideas from the community. If you have a cool video project you would like showcased, or that you believe would be a cool addition to our News content, feel free to message myself (CX-X Canik), or CT Momentum.

 

    Make sure to keep your eyes out for a few articles in the near future, including an in-depth look into the Krayt Program, as well as the newest expansion to the 501st Legion, Cyclone Company!

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 

 

  

 

CYCLONE

 

 

    As the 501st Legion marches forward in time, we look into better ways to help the members with their ambitions, both in game and out of game. We recently saw the expansion of Acklay into a Company unfold, which presented ease on the game servers during their operations, as well as opportunities for rank progression. This expanse also acted as a proof of concept for Avalanche to attempt the same. Prior to these events, only once had another Company of infantry opened in 501st history, Blizzard. There were various reasons as to why Blizzard did not work, but instead of leaving the idea dead in the water, our new leadership decided to expand on it and try something new. This would be Cyclone.

 

    As of posting this Newsletter, we can only provide the basic public details.

    WHEN: Sunday, 05/24, after 2nd Platoon's Operation. These changes are as of current on schedule to begin at the conclusion of the Operations on Sunday.

 

    WHO: Avalanche will be brought down to 3 Platoons, each platoon consisting of 3 squads each. Cyclone will see an existing platoon join it's ranks, with an addition of 2 more platoons, all with 3 squads each. The majority of 4th Platoon will become 1st Platoon of Cyclone Company. The majority of 3rd Platoon Avalanche Company will become 3rd Platoon Cyclone Company. Various squads from the 4 current platoons will be incorporated into the new platoons, or transition to the newly organized Avalanche Platoons. Many of these squad and platoon changes were made with their members in mind, based on availability for the new Operation Times. 

 

    OPERATION TIMES: These are the times currently publicly available: 

Avalanche 3 -- 8pm Thursday

Acklay 2 -- 6pm Friday

Cyclone 3 -- 8pm Friday

Cyclone 2 -- 2pm Saturday

Cyclone 1 -- 430pm Saturday

Avalanche 1 -- 530pm Saturday

Acklay 1 -- 3pm Sunday

Avalanche 2 -- 5pm Sunday

  

Disclaimer - This is all public knowledge. Due to the nature of this expansion, information may change as quickly as it is released, and as such this announcement is purely to help make people aware of said changes.

 

 

DISCORD REORGANIZATION:

 

  

At long last, some organization within the Discord. On 05/20, many big changes where made to the Discord, including the condensing of channels and categories, as well as the renaming and adjustments to others. The most notable of these changes would be the slimming of C Shop related categories into their base department categories. Now, all C1 - Personnel related C Shops are within the C1 - Personnel category. This change includes all MoS and Qualification channels (now found under C6 - Training). A few C Shop channels were left alone, however. Tech Support is still found under "501st Unit Information", and the Aux Mod still has it's own category, both due to the nature of their shops. Another big change was the reorganization of the channels found near the top of the Discord, as well as some name changes. "General Stuff" category is now known as "501st Open" with the intent of being the social channels available to guests and members alike. "Unit Info" is now "501st Unit Info" and contains informative channels regarding information for the 501st. "501st Community" kept its name, but saw the addition of Unit Chat and Unit Photos, and the loss of the "Other" channels (Other Events, Other Events Discussion, and Other Games), sacrificed to the "501st Social" category. Additionally, the "Newcomers" category was moved to the top of the discord, with informative channels as well as the Recruiter Central (Now Recruiter Open) placed within for the sake of people wishing to join the community. Tag Request and Leave of Absence remains where it is, within "501st Unit Info". 

 

You will also see some additional name changes, such as the renaming of all "-public" channels now called "-open". These changes were for consistency. Lastly, as stated in the announcement prior to this, Cyclone Company will be opening, and as such, Cyclone Company, and Cyclone 1-3 categories were created as placeholders for the big switcheroo. These categories are currently empty, but will be utilized as the expansion occurs this Sunday. As the Discord Admin, I understand some of these changes come as a frustration, but it is a necessary move as we continue to create and expand our ranks within the unit. If you come across any bugs or news features you didnt normally have and have not earned by billet, please send me (CX-X Canik) a DM, or poke me on our TS. Thank you!

 

   

 

 

UTC: Showing some love to our UTC instructors, we would like to remind all recruits who have passed BCT to attend a UTC orientation in order to complete their training and continue to progress their skills and abilities. Orientation is scheduled for next friday (05/29) at 6pm EST, with an orientation taking place every other Friday. Currently, UTC staff are not recruiting for additional instructors, however, as the flow of recruits increases, so too will the need for more instructors. Keep an eye for future recruitment announcements for UTC staff positions.  

 

 

 ROSTER CLERKS: With recent changes in Roster Clerk staff, some new positions were recently opened. Applicants that were Cadets or above were asked to create an example roster, and send it to CC Fancy as part of the application process. Currently, selected applicants are under review, with decisions expected to be made soon. 

 

 

TCW: TCW staff are looking for additional members to fill their ranks. Their current recruitment focus is on those who have skills in Texturing, though if you have experience within any modding capacity, feel free to apply. Additionally, the team is looking for more 501st Testers, where you would be required to test various assets within the mod, and provide information about said assets that can help improve the quality overall. TCW is also working on polishing a variety of aspects of the mod, and will be updated the 3AS Beta soon. If you are interested in any position within TCW, feel free to contact CC Lava, CS-M Drifter, or CP Tuff within the 501st, or CC Jek or CLC Ganch of the 212th. 

 

 

 

 

  “Stay safe out there.” - BC Jay

  

 

 

Avalanche HQ

News: Avalanche HQ members are hard at work organizing the Cyclone expansion, slotted to officially take place this Sunday after all platoon Operations have been completed. 

No Promotions

"I hear time slowly changes the things around us, but someone has to make the changes right?" - CC Player

  

  

 

Acklay HQ

News: Much to the delight of the Newsletter Publisher, Acklay is looking into the creation and editing of their Company and Platoon logos. 

Promotions: Lava (1st LT to Captain)

"I've heard Andromeda is keeping up the tradition of dipping pizza in milk." - CC Lava

  

  

Zeta

News: Zeta Company is working their best to provide the unit with Active members to keep squads moving and filling positions across the battalion.

Promotions: Projekt (CR-C to CT)

"Delta has assured me that the Warhammer tanks will be modified to have miniatures on the sides by the end of the week." - CC Fancy

 

 

 

  

  

Avalanche 1 

Recruitment: 1-1 has one Trooper Slot Open.

No Promotions

“Excited for what the future may bring!” - CC Point

  

 

  

Avalanche 2

Recruitment:2-1 has 1 Medic Slot Open, 2-2 has 1 Medic Slot Open, 2-3 has 1 Trooper Slot Open, and 2-4 has 1 RTO and 1 Trooper Slot Open.

Promotions: Infinite (Sr. CT to Vt. CT), Chaser (CP to Sr. CP), Hackett (CT to Sr. CT).

“I feel a storm coming… the wind, the air, it feels like a cyclone is coming!” - CS-M Pompano

  

 

  

Avalanche 3

Recruitment:3-1 has 1 Trooper Slot Open, 3-2 has 1 Trooper Slot Open, and 3-4 has 1 Medic Slot Open.

No Promotions.

"To the future holder of Avalanche 3-6, if you tap the desk 3 times, you get a Snickers." - CC Andromeda

  

 

 

  

Avalanche 4

Recruitment: 4-1 has 1 Trooper Slot Open, 4-3 has 1 Trooper Slot Open, 4-4 has 2 Trooper Slots Open.

Promotions: CT Craz (Billeted to 4-4 Bravo Team Lead), Shadow (Sr. CP to CS), Indigo (CT to Sr. CT), Matt (CT to Sr. CT),

“4th Platoon is forever” - CS-M Drifter

  

  

 

Acklay 1

Recruitment: N/A

Promotions: Nobear (CS to CS-M), Volley (CT to Sr. CT).

"I stole Ricochet's Spaghetti" - CS-M Nobear

  

  

Acklay 2

Recruitment: N/A

Promotions: Grinch (CS to CS-M), Yowa (CT to Sr. CT).

"Aight Bucko, lemme break it down. Nobear copied my helmet and don't let anyone tell you otherwise." - CS-M Ricochet

  

 

 

 

 

 

Razor

News: ITA applicants are undergoing their interview process in order to start the ride-a-long portion of joining Razor. Feel free to attend any voluntary flight training hosted by members of Razor if you are interested in honing your flying abilities!

Promotions: Casskun (Flight Officer to LTJG).

“You can tell a lot about a leader by how they treat those in their charge, than by those beside or above them. Also, Dylan is heading off to US Air Force basic, so I’d like to announce his banishment from Razor for his refusal to shave with an electric razor. He is banished forthwith, until he learns the value of a proper shave.” - CX-S Casskun

 

 

 

Mynock

News: Mynock re-organisation is going well and IEA is running smoothly

Promotions: Zulu (CS to CS-M), Compo (Sr. CT to Vt. CT)

“I like to write "to whomever it concerns" on my shells. Makes it more personal” - CS Dues

 

 

 

RTO

News: New training coming out soon! Expanding to two classes, a basic one open to CRs in UTC, and a qualification one open to CR-C+ that includes most of the calls and the current advanced training.

RTO Promotions: Ajax (CI-C to CI)

“I am proud to announce that CI Rise has been promoted to head RTO Intern” - CI-S Purdy

 

 

 

Medical

News: The unwritten rules of medics are now written and new AAR templates are out.

Medical Promotions: Larry (CR-C to CM-C), Peaches (CR to CM-C), Merlin (CT to CM-C), Ender (CM-C to CM), Sunday (CM to CM-T)

“CM-P isn’t pronounced ‘Simp’” - CM-P Cor

 

 

 

 

 

 

_{501st News Team opinion doesn’t reflect the opinions of the entire community. If you’d like to help the news team bring in new information, you can by signing up for the news team, submitting an article, posting a piece of media or getting publicity for a custom event you’re hosting. For those interested, please contact either CX-X Canik, CT Momentum, or one of the editors for more information. Your voice matters, let it be heard. We’re currently looking for writers to collect stories, media and content. Feel free to leave comments  below on what you think.  Also please consider donating to the 501st to help pay for server costs and help keep this community alive and well maintained.}

 

_{Publisher: CX-X Canik
Assistant Publisher: CT Momentum}

_{Chief Newsletter Correspondent: CX-X Canik
Correspondents: CM Sunshine, CW Super, CM-P Cor
Graphic Designers (Headers, BARC, etc): CS Jupiter, CT Dragon}

Publisher: CX-X Canik
May 15th, 2020

 

Editor's Note:

 

     Hello everyone, and thank you for reading our first Official War Report! The purpose of this article is to recap on the events each Platoon experienced the previous weekend, to be published before the start of the new weekend. Some of you may have noticed an extra trooper running around with your Command Element. Chances are, either your Command Cell is spending credits on people they shouldn't be, or it is one of the News Team's own War Correspondents! Their purpose is to go and gather information about each Platoon FTX/Operation, in order to have it written into one of these articles, with the purpose of helping inform you all of everyone's actions during the weekend. This is still a new project, and as such, Quality and Formatting will change over the next few articles (to be published Fridays before 3rd Platoon). We hope you enjoy!

 

 

 

  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Blind Man’s Gamble

501st Platoon Operations

For Week of 5/08-10

 
 
 
 
 
 

 

Introduction

 

 

     From the sun-baked beaches of Malden and Wako’anak to the frozen winter wonderlands of Chernarus. The Legion brought the full force of Avalanche Company to the simulators to weather yet another challenge. Four platoons readied themselves for the coming storm. While some fronts faced a breakdown in communication, others lost the aid of their supporting elements. The platoons would only be able to rely on themselves and themselves alone. Only trust in each other and a will of beskar would enable them to come out on top of their foes. 

 

 

 

 

 

Operation “Labyrinth”

Avalanche Co. 1st Platoon

 

 

     Orders falling on deaf ears can leave a Platoon vulnerable, but what if they weren’t there at all? First Lieutenant Point and his command staff would undertake Operation Labyrinth, the disruption of Separatist operations and their influence over a vast area across the southeastern stretch of Malden. The fight would take them from the coastlines inland, further into Separatist lines, and along a steep ascent up a mountain slope. With the newfound absence of long-ranged communications, their success would bank off the cunning use of recent additions to the Republic’s arsenal, the LTU Jump Pack. Today, 1st Platoon would be taking flight. 

 

     From the onset of fighting, it became clear that 1st Platoon’s enemy would not surrender their position until the last man. Plasma scorched every inch of every rampart, the infantry were troublesome alone, but they became a thorn in the Platoon’s side once the Anti-Air joined in the barrage. Once the guns were silenced, the 1st and 3rd Squads made great headway, while 2nd and 4th Squad became bogged down in their fight up the coast. With Objective Icarus clear, Point and his men made quick work of the remaining defenders, leaving more rust than blood behind them as they set their sights on their final task, Objective Daedalus. The bonafide scrappers, fresh off the beach were greeted by a resilient foe on their approach to the final objective. The fight up the hill was expected, but 3rd Squad began to falter despite their success on the beach. With the aid of 1st Squad, the Platoon was able to surge past the defenders and carry out a demo-operation. Fire engulfed the jamming tower of Daedalus, and Point shifted focus to his next duty. Holding the hill.

 

     The platoon dug their way into the slope, and readied themselves for a counterattack along the flanks of Daedalus. When the last mound of dirt had been built, the call went out. The fight slowed, and the Platoon’s job was finished. 

 

 

 

 

 

Operation “Ragnarök”

Avalanche Co. 2nd Platoon

 

 

     Since their reintroduction to the unit, the Krayt Trooper program has been very forthcoming in information and offered a promising future for the Legion’s ARC Troopers. Now, under Sergeant Major Pompano, the Legion’s finest would set up operations on the Planet of Wako’anak on their own. The Troopers of 2nd Platoon would face a daunting task, weathering the effects of both a Radio Jamming Station, in addition to the threat of a High-Level Separatist Airfield. Their simulation would run the platoon on an island-hopping adventure, spanning several of the islands comprising an archipelago in the region. 2nd Platoon’s offensive action would be the driving force for a greater Company-wide offensive into enemy territory. Against unknown odds, and with limited assets at their disposal, the Platoon would need to fight for every inch of sand with rising confidence if they intended to break the Separatist’s hold in the region. 

 

     As dawn broke over Wako’anak’s many islands, the Platoon’s operation was well underway. A detachment of ARC Troopers was covertly inserted utilizing the Company’s Air Detachment, and were hard at work mapping out the Separatist’s control over the region. During the ARC’s trek through the jungle it became clear that the mission’s success hinged off more than just the destruction of a simple power station. The Platoon’s recon element had come across a series of back-up generators stationed at both POI’s “ALL” and “Freya”. The assault on Objective Thor was in jeopardy of failing if they could not bring down the jamming station. Pompano’s staff quickly devised a new plan, and within minutes the Platoon was on the move. All four of the squads made landfall near the town of Bafata, utilizing Razor callsigns to carve a path to their first objective, the jammers residing on Objective Thor. Jungle fighting ensued, and 3rd Squad under Sergeant Parrott’s command encountered heavy resistance from their south. A sudden surge in the number of heavy infantry and MAAWs droids lead to 3rd Squad sustaining a number of losses in the engagement. Parrott and his men would have to bear the brunt of the Separatist’s assault as 4th Squad made efforts to relieve the battered troopers. With both squads working in tandem the fighting was brought to a close. Leaving both 3rd and 4th Squad’s numbers in a sorry state after suffering losses at the hands of various droid types. 

 

     A short moment of respite greeted the Platoon, and the squads began to shift gears northwards. Making headway towards the town of Waku Kungo, until disaster struck. A flight of HMP gunships dispersed well over a platoon of droids on the flank of Pompano’s forces. From the moment the paradropped machines dug their heels into the sand the Platoon was engulfed yet again in a platoon-wide firefight. Losses began to mount, and Pompano organized a retreat. Once the squads had found solid ground to return fire from the threat on their flank was handled appropriately. With losses mounting, the Sergeant Major pressed his attack on Objective Thor, but was greeted with a heavy-handed response by the Separatist’s Air Detachment. Every craft in their fleet turned to batter the already wounded men of the 2nd. Every torpedo and bomb they could muster was employed. Both 3rd and 4th Squad suffered the worst from this heavy air campaign. With field reports of 3rd Squad’s leader, Parrot falling injured following a crippling bombing run.

 

     Efforts made by 2nd Squad and Pompano resulted in the deactivation of the first power supply for the jamming station. Auxiliary systems were carefully demolished by members of Avalanche Company, and the new task of destroying the back-up systems for the station was bestowed upon the minds of Pompano’s team yet again. As the redeployment and readying of a new plan was underway, the Krayt team deployed across the AO was carrying out a secondary, yet vital mission. While the majority of Avalanche drew the attention of the Separatist forces on the archipelago, the smaller, more maneuverable Krayt team executed a raid on a detention center. Securing countless civilian and republic POWs from Separatist captivity. When an appropriate site to land had been secured, the ARC troopers rallied with 2nd Platoon. Together the two forces staged an attack on a Separatist stronghold that overlooked the region. Its shield generators posed a substantial threat to the Platoon, but like the heavy droid presence, was neutralized in due time. By now the platoon’s momentum was rising, and they were rolling the defenders with ease. With their final objective in tow, and minimal casualties to report, the Platoon executed a retreat under fire and successfully evacuated their assets from the archipelago. Leaving the Separatist forces in ruin and disarray. 

 

 

 

 

 

Operation “Steel Rain”

Avalanche Co. 3rd Platoon

 

 

     From rockets to rifles, grenades and grenade launchers. The galaxy has seen every means of warfare wielded by the Republic since the outbreak of the Clone War. The 3rd Platoon of Avalanche Company sought to strengthen their resolve when greeted with a new adversary. Under Andromeda's leadership, the Platoon was plunged into its next simulation with the Lieutenant’s sights set on limiting the gear distributed throughout the platoon. When supplies ran short, sacrifices to kits would need to be made. The troopers of 3rd Platoon would need to adapt to these changes quickly, or face total annihilation at the hands of their foes. And if the degradation of their supplies wasn’t enough, the Platoon was weighed down by yet another handicap, the long-range radio. Its communicative prowess on the battlefield was stripped from the backs of the Platoon’s intercommunicators. In their absence, 3rd Platoon would be pressed into a large offensive maneuver against a daunting Separatist garrison with no communication to their chain of command. 

 

     Lieutenant Andromeda’s confidence in his platoon was absolute. 3rd Platoon’s resolve had been tried and tested time and time again, the weekend’s challenges of Operation “Steel Rain” would be tackled in the manner that he and his staff approached every other mission, with the appropriate amount of cunning necessary to guarantee the platoon’s success. With a steady breeze at their back, Andromeda and his men made their landing in the early morning. Greeted by a snow-covered field, his men made quick work of the earth beneath their feet and erected a defensive line spanning their landing grounds. With their position secured, Andromeda’s focus shifted to the mission at hand. The platoon was halved and they embarked on their respective paths towards their objectives. The snowfall’s efforts to impede them proved fruitless, and the march towards the Separatists would be a quick one. 3-1 and 3-2 were tasked with laying down an assault on the inland portion of Berezino, pushing into the city and fighting in close-quarters with enemy resistance, while 3-3 and 3-4 were given the important role of securing the docks, ramparts, and coastal portions of the city, ensuring that no CIS reinforcements were able to arrive from sea to catch our troopers off their guard. 

 

     3-1 and 3-2 were met by the battle-hardened forces of the Separatist’s infantry, which put up a respectable fight, engaging the squad of clones from outstandingly short distances, leaving no room for error among the tight corridor and wide street-filled city. The scream of vulture droids performing close air support suppressed the troopers each time they would shoot by overhead, and the deafening cracks of plasma impacting stone could be heard in every district of the settlement as the two factions clashed together, close enough at times to hear each other’s voices issuing commands over the cacophony of war. While the inland portion of Berezino was taken by surprise, 3-3 and 3-4 made their move on the coastal section, gaining ground towards the docks. They were met with armored threats in the form of AATs and Trojan transport vehicles. Despite overwhelming firepower, and a concerning number of casualties caused by point-blank fire from mechanized opposition, the distinguished fighters of the 501st Legion broke through the curtain of incoming munitions, and prevailed in their fight for the coast. 

 

     3-4 experienced a MASCAS during the daring assault, which was mentioned and used as an example of why overextending forces can be exploited during the mission’s debrief. The platoon had been successful even in the shadow of all the handicaps put in place to test their limits, and as such, they will be prepared for whatever fight the CIS tosses at the Republic next. 

 

 

 

 

 

Operation “Daylight Signal”

Avalanche Co. 4th Platoon

  

 

     The 4th and final Platoon of the Avalanche Company descended upon the island of Nogova, and was as challenging of a task as the others. Sergeant Major Sam went to work on the weekend’s simulation, and Operation “Daylight Signal” was underway. Similar to 1st Platoon’s application of LTU’s, the Sergeant Major and his forces would need to attack Separatist hardpoints from a less orthodox angle, from above. The confederacy mustered a menacing anti-air battery in the region, necessitating the use of jump packs on a platoon-scale. Making use of every tool at their disposal, Objectives Percival and Uther would be the center of focus for the duration of their ground offensive. Coupled with the two strongpoints on the island, a third objective beset the Platoon. Point of Interest “Gawain”, housing a jamming tower made it an ample target for 4th Platoon’s demolition teams. By any means the tower would fall. 

 

     From the onset of the operation, Sam and his staff were blindsided by an unexpected engagement. Out from the LAAT and into the fray, the platoon suffered substantial losses on insertion. 3rd and 4th Squad made landfall at their respective drop zones and were faced with a heavy-handed Separatist response. Armor descended upon the unsuspecting platoon, and it ravaged their lines. With casualties mounting, and their position buckling under the fire of numerous variants of Confederate armor, Sam quickly rallied his men and pressed onward. Bulbous bolts of energy arced over their lines, wreaking havoc throughout the platoon. In a mad-dash, the men of the 4th piled their forces towards the Separatist’s positions. If they were to find any reprieve from the onslaught they would have to deny the enemy every asset they had. 

 

     Smoke plumed from every corner of the Power Station, and the Confederate generators were silenced. The Sergeant Major rallied elements under his command and the platoon moved to occupy the Separatist’s main operating base. With the Anti-Air Grid powerless, supplies were airdropped to the battered platoon while their command staff devised a new plan of attack. An elite scouting force composed of troopers from the Krayt program would be sent to map out hostile positions and gauge the enemy’s presence throughout the region. With sufficient intel gathered, the platoon carried their daring raid under the cover of night. The shadow of the 4th crept ever closer to the unsuspecting Confederate machines until it was too late. 

 

     Blaster fire rocked the installation, and plasma left its mark on every surface available. Ramparts were peppered with numerous attempts to maim and decommission Separatist machinery. The battle spilled over the walls and the garrison crumbled before the sustained attack. 4th Platoon’s command entrusted the defense of their escape to half the platoon, while the other half trekked into the heart of the facility. Within minutes the fighting came to a close, the platoon sacked the facility and with it captured a target of potential interest. Their prisoner in tow, the platoon was ready to evacuate and the mission looked over, however the Confederacy had other plans.

 

     Nothing screams impossible like the threat of a starship covered front to back with durasteel plating thicker than five men laid across. The low roar of starship engines filled the head of every man on the ground, and the nightmare lumbered into view, a Munificent-Class Frigate. The now disparaged platoon was burned into the ground as the lone warship rained fire on their positions. Pockets of resistance left no trace as the lances of energy splashed across them. Waves of blistering heat enveloped dozens of troopers, nothing could withstand its bombardment, and Sam was made well aware. The platoon was seared into the rocks they ran across, and their desperate retreat was only aided by the fading efforts of the gunships overhead. Starfighters of every class descended upon the stragglers as they sprinted across the open fields of Nogova. The droids set the hillsides ablaze with Kaminoan property, leaving nothing but smoldering craters in 4th Platoon’s wake. Sam himself fell victim to the fury of the Confederate ship, and the rest of the platoon soon followed. No one would be able to save the 4th under the weight of the Munificent, and soon the plasma would engulf those who remained after the first volley. 

 

 

 

 

 

Aftermath

 

 

 

     This weekend the Republic’s simulators were kept busy, we’ve encountered Jammers before but not on this scale. We should make a point of how lack of communication was able to hinder the Company throughout their operations. Good maintenance of these systems, and their back-ups should be practiced and refined into skills. Do this, and you will overcome even the most morbid of situations.

 

     Furthermore, the LTU Jump Pack is a valuable asset. The Company has proved its worth over a large span of time, however we’ve also proved how prone they are to leaving us out of position and in a new world of pain. 4th Platoon’s folly at their DZs when landing will not be repeated again, their platoon staff can assure you that much. 3rd Platoon faced similar problems, their debrief after the simulation highlighted the importance of situational awareness. 3rd’s struggles came from a staggered line of advance, some squads made great headway while others fell behind and were left at the mercy of Confederate airstrikes.

 

We go into these simulations with good intents and purposes, learn from other’s mistakes and we’ll see you all next week with the next cycle’s recap! 

 

 

 

_{Publisher: CX-X Canik
Assistant Publisher: CT Momentum}

_{Chief War Correspondent: CP Swanny
War Correspondents: CW Super, CI-C Bastil, CS-M Drammon, CP Muzzer
Graphic Designers: CS Jupiter, CT Dragon}

  

 

 

   From meme to reality, Acklay’s expansion into a Company came as a surprise to many across the 501st community when it was first rolled out to the Legion. The expansion has added a second Platoon to Acklay, each platoon being three squads strong. *(At the time of this publication, Acklay 2’s 3rd squad is closed). Acklay’s growth from a detachment to a Company wasn’t without its challenges and tribulations of course. (The most important being who gets custody of George!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Acklay Who?

 

 

     For those who don't know, Acklay is the 501st Airborne Company. They specialize in path finding, QRF, and raids. Acklay deploys from LAATs into the AO like the rest of the battalion, but instead of landing, they jump from them! Using their jump packs to keep them safe from gravity's embrace, Acklay can be deployed to get into the thickest of enemy lines, or help pull pressure from other lines their way. But that's not all, lately, they've specialized in expansion!

 

 

   

The Road To Company

 

 

     Members of leadership in the newly formed Company faced a myriad of challenges before it’s inception. We sat with CC Lava, the Company Commander of Acklay, where he said the following when asked about what the biggest challenge for expanding Acklay into a Company was; “[...]However, discussing and understanding benefits and issues with three squads per platoon was originally one of the hardest decisions.”  Which is understandable considering before this the only other time any platoon had been three squads in size was when the 501st was first created and still growing. Ultimately, though, Acklay jumped over the many obstacles that faced them throughout this expansion process and have come out the other side much stronger as a result.

 

     That didn’t mean that Acklay didn't face issues however.  “We needed to make sure of all of the documentation, training, rosters, and how the transition would work before proposing it to battalion.” said CI-S Power. “ Additionally we wanted to make sure that we had a good base to build from with strong troopers and NCOs who were ready and able to grow into higher positions, for example Nobear and Grinch taking the 1-7 and 2-7 positions. However, that wasn't enough. One of the biggest things was moving from a four squad platoon down to three, this kept the mindset and feasibility of being a supporting element with a focus of QRF in mind. It was a long process but I'm glad we put in the work. CC Lava and CS-M Ricochet put in a majority of the work and I think they did a great job.”

 

 
 
 

     Even after the changes went live, there were still new challenges to take up. Acklay leadership said that the some of the biggest challenge they faced while expanding was having to shuffle members of Acklay between their first and second platoons. In order to facilitate the manpower to staff the platoons comprising Acklay’s two platoons, the airborne detachment made the decision to distribute their current assets amongst themselves, resulting in the allotment of two squads to each platoon. Some members found the new platoon times unfavorable, while others in the first platoon found that 2nd was a lot better for their sleep schedule.  While the third squad of 2nd platoon is still closed, Acklay 1-3, as of writing, has all active slots filled, making Acklay 1 a full 3 squad platoon. So what does that mean for Acklay 2-3? Well, it's a priority to be sure, but CS-M Ricochet had this to say on the subject;“2nd Platoon specifically is eager to start the process to have our 3rd squad open up. Leadership for the new squad is being observed and we're making sure everything is ready for shifts here and there. Anything else info wise and I'd have to kill ya.”

  
  

     The overall mood for the Airborne company has been positive, and bright futures with good fortune are expected on the horizon! These recent additions to the Legion’s ranks are not a newfound thing, the conception of the new airborne platoon has been in motion for some time now. CC Lava said that it has been in progress for over a year, and that this change has been in the works since CS-M Ricochet was just a wee CP! 

 

 

What About George?

 

 

The biggest question on everyone's minds though is what is to happen to George, Acklay’s mascot. We got many answers from leadership on what should happen. Some report he is being watched by the Company's new Warrant Officer, Mimir. Others still say he now lives under the UTC training grounds so he has plenty of food and exercise. But, luckily CS-M Jan has assured us that there still will only be one big Christmas for George.

 

Jan also had the following to say about the fate of George “...because in Acklay maybe because it’s still fresh or because we highly encourage the fact that Acklay is Acklay, everyone sees themselves as part of Acklay not because they are told to but because they want (to be). Everyone holds themselves to the same standards so fighting over custody of George wasn’t even a discussion point, it was clear that George will be shared by everyone equally.”

 

 

Want To Know More?

  

 

     Faced with the daunting task of manning a new platoon, Acklay has tackled the problem head on and with high spirits. We’re confident that the Company’s Leadership will continue to meet this problem with rising tenacity, and in due time, prove that the newest addition to the 501st’s Airborne Company will prove itself to be one of our most valuable assets! If you'd like to know more about Acklay, feel free to join one of their many channels and ask! While as of this publication, Acklay is not recruiting, this shouldn't stop you from going and having a chat. Acklay members are well known to have game and movie nights that are open to all, and we can assure you, none of them bite…. Well… maybe Goerge does, but it's only happened twice. 

 
 
 
 

*"George resides where he always did. In the hearts and minds of all Acklay Troopers. But we put him in Company and made a trapdoor to his pen in the BCT/UTC barracks. Gotta make sure he gets his exercise and what not." - CS-M Rico 

 

 

 

_{Publisher: CX-X Canik}

_{Chief Editor: CT Momentum}

_{Assistant Editor: CX-X Shnuffles}

_{Journalists: CS Sense, CX-W Rive, CT Dakota, CT Goddest}

_{Photos: CT Rayne (George courtesy of CS Dragneel)}

_{Banner: CT Dragon}

Publisher: CX-X Canik
May 8th, 2020

 

Editor's Note:

    Hello everyone, and thank you for reading the 501st Newsletter, Issue #40! Recently, we posted an announcement for a recruitment drive in the Official 501st Discord, and within that announcement, a statement was made regarding the status of the 501st News Team. We have been made aware of some comments regarding our content quality and publication consistency. We sat down and had a team meeting, and I want to let you, the readers, know that we hear you. We're always watching...

 

    As such, we are undergoing some major changes in our journalist methods, and increasing our efforts to bring you guys better content. As for the consistency of publications, that is entirely on me, CX-X Canik. We will be maintaining more strict deadlines in order to bring our content to you in a timely fashion. We want to thank you readers for your continued loyalty in reading our content, regardless of what and when we post. Thank you!

 

    Make sure to keep your eyes out for a few articles in the near future, including a more in depth look into the Acklay expansion, as well as the Krayt ARC Program!

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 

 

 

This month's raffle has a bit of a twist. There was a total of 20 stickers, 4 copies of Jedi Fallen Order, and the book Star Wars: Complete Locations given away this month during our most recent raffle. But that's not the twist. The twist to this raffle is that all 20 of the stickers, 1 of the Fallen Order copies, and the Star Wars book were all donated by CX-W Prof! On top of this, this individual also donated a sticker to each member of Battalion, Avalanche Company HQ, Acklay Company HQ, Zeta Company HQ, and the CO and XO of each Platoon (Acklay and Avalanche)! His reasoning for this generous donation (sticker prices add up!) is "because during times like these, a community this helpful and fun is great to have, and I am honored to know I am a part of it!"

 

The list is long.

 

The Sticker Winners are:                  

CT Scavenger	CT Ritter	CT Nuclear	CX-X Zoro	CS Tee
CT Hook	CP Grandpa	CT Diverge	CM Soviet	CT Sticks
CT Maelstrom	CT Sour	CP Seejers	CT Pigeon	CP Black
CT Connor	CP Needles	CR-C Castle	CP Guide	CW-O Super

 

The Jedi Fallen Order Winners and the Star Wars: Complete Locations book Winner are:

CT Goddest	CX-X Alex
CT Versa	CX-X Ethan

CX-C Halligan

 

In the last part of this topic, the following individuals all received a sticker as a thank you from CX-W Prof: BC Jay, CS-M Odin, CS-M Shade, CI-S Power, CC Cruisie, CC Euler, CC Player, CC Crisis, CI-S Purdy, CW-M Archon, CC Fancy (donated his to Vt. CT Weaver), CC Point, CS Hoodoo, CS-M Pompano, CS Bjorn, CC Andromeda, CS-M Drammon, CS-M Drifter, CS-M Sam, CC Lava, CS-M Jan, CS Nobear, CS-M Ricochet, CS Grinch, CC Delta, CS Zulu, CX Scuba, CX-P Casskun.

 

  

 

  

 

Per CC Crisis: New Server Restart Times!

 

 

    "Good afternoon all. In our continued mission to increase server performance, we have discovered a recent issue with an Arma update and our box. I won't bore you with the details, but in short it is due to a recent Arma update. There have been duplicated instances of Arma appearing on our server box. These extra instances are creating a hamper on server box performance. From what we have found these occur over the course of the day and disappear with a restart of the server box. We have an automatic box restart each day around 4 am EST, but this is not enough. To provide the best opportunity for server performance we will be doing a server box restart on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday before Operations and FTXs begin.

    Here are the times the server box will restart on those days:

Friday: 5 PM EST

Saturday: 3 PM EST

Sunday: 2 PM EST

 

    These times have been decided by trying to balance everything that happens with our schedule and the 101st (they share our box). These times have been placed at points where some trainings or events would be ending and others starting. If you have a training that starts at this time you will need to adjust slightly. The restart should only take 15 minutes, so it will not delay your training much. As for fun ops just be aware of this to try and complete your fun ops by these times or else the server will just lose connection while it is being restarted. We understand this may cause a slight inconvenience for some, but it is to assist with creating Operations and FTXs with the best performance possible. Have a nice day.

 

 

CAMPAIGN MEDALS:

"For the planet of Rugosa, due to the great courage, valor, and sometimes bullheaded nature of Avalanche 4-1, they have been awarded the Planetary Ribbon. After their daring joust with death during the initial deployment onto the planet, Avalanche 4-1 dove head first into a minefield of their own creation to delay enemy troop advancements. As if that were not death defying enough, they then pursued the enemy into their own ship, and ripped the controls from their cold, dead, oily hands, ultimately claiming it for the 501st."

 

 

  

"On the planet of Nawan, the 501st felt the hand of a droid tactician who lured the platoons into a dangerous ambush with tactics that brutalized those who foolishly fell into his trap. During the onslaught, the droid artillery rained down, and one squad stood tall and continued to show the droids what we clones are made of. Avalanche 2-2 stood on the droid's doorstep, and no matter the hellfire from the sky, nor the demon MTT that attacked from their rear, they held the line in the sand that they drew so that the rest of the platoon could fall back and regroup."

 

 

"On the planet of Vohai, key clone genetic material was in jeopardy of falling into the hands of the CIS, and Avalanche 3-4 rose to the occasion to defend all clones from future attacks. Not only pushing through dense forested coastline, and combating overwhelming odds to find a hidden supply depot, they have shown extreme perseverance and resilience to hardships throughout the campaign. The squad's determined nature and unwillingness to allow future battles to fail before they even start has surely saved all of the 501st from the evil plans of the CIS scientists on this day!"

 

 

"Upon initial contact of D'Qar, the 501st quickly realized the CIS defenses were more well established than previously thought. Along with this, we learned about the CIS capturing and enslaving the local populace. Avalanche 2 was able to locate the remaining planetary locals along with their King, only to have a bombing campaign begin, with the intent to wipe them off the face of the planet. Avalanahce 2-3 was able to hold the line, with several witnesses saying that not only were the bombs raining down, but the carcasses of the victims of that squad rained down, ensuring the droid commanders never again underestimated them on the field of battle."

   

 

   

 

 

 

Story Writers:  “Currently we have developed a second branch of Story Writers. They are going to be working behind the scenes to make things more interesting. We have a lot of projects in the works and are currently planning for a big end to the "Test Sector". We have been working with Acklay and the Campaign Leadership in order to do a more involved Intel gathering phase to the Planets. All is going well and we are continuing the grind. FILL OUT THE STORY REVIEW FORM as it helps us know what to do to get better, It can be found within TFAR, the Story Writers Channel, and lastly my Office.”  - CS Bjorn

 

 

Document Maintenance Committee: The Document Maintenance Committee has been reorganized in order to ensure that public unit-wide documents are kept up to date in a timely fashion. These sort of documents include the 501st Unit Rules (Revised), Gear and Uniform Guides, Rank Requirements (both versions), and other various public documents that are not specifically designated to another C Shop. As such, they are in need of a few positions filled, including Assistant Committee Lead, Proofreader, and Distribution Overseer. Another aspect of the shop is to make sure the document links are updated within the various teamspeak channels they are located in. If you are interested in applying for one of these positions, please send a message to CP Clock for further information.

 

 

Event Management: The Event Management C Shop put out a vote for the Flavor of the Month for June 2020, and while it has not officially been announced, the votes seem to indicate that the majority want a Vietnam Theme. The Flavor of the Month is the style of Arma gameplay that one of our dedicated servers is oriented around, using various mods for different eras. On top of determining the FotM, the Event Management C Shop also helps assist event creators in promoting the event, and can help schedule events so they do not overlap each other, allowing everyone to participate in multiple events are they come along. Message CP Pro for further information regarding Event Management if you are interested!

 

 

 

 

 

  “Work Smarter, Not Harder.” - BC Jay

  

 

 

Avalanche HQ

News: Company Leadership will be testing out more gear restrictions this week in order to create more challenging gameplay and to help limit the strain on the servers. Additionally, all of Avalanche is on FTX this weekend.

No Promotions

"Avalanche Company has no comment to the news team about the relationship between Platoon Sergeant Drammon and Platoon Sergeant Bjorn, however we are currently investigating reports that we have received regarding the issue." - CC Player

  

  

 

Acklay HQ

News: As of 5/5/2020, a Company-wide Phase requal was ordered. The exemption to this is Phase Maroon. All Blues are being kept earned from phase gold though, regardless of the requal order. The order was initiated due to major Phase Reworks as well as encourage members to cycle new information to all Acklay members. All Acklay members are expected to requalify their Phase Trainings within the next few months.

No Promotions

“A Phase a day keeps the CIS at bay!” - CC Lava

  

  

Zeta

News: Zeta Company is working their best to provide the unit with Active members to keep squads moving and filling positions across the battalion.

Promotions: Fancy (CS-M to 2nd LT (CC), Broad (CW-2 to CW-3), Ripjaw (CW-1 to CW-2), Super (CW to CW-1), Griggs (CR-C to CT), Diver (CR-C to CT), Dutch (CR-C to CT), Klinger (CR-C to CT), Staho (CR-C to CT), Gladiator (CR-C to CT), Lasse (CR-C to CT), Rushmore (CR-C to CT), Vegas (CR-C to CT), Claymur (CR-C to CT), Druid (CR-C to CT), Graze (CR-C to CT), Thanorlin (CR-C to CT), Weapon (CR-C to CT).

“Working with Fancy is like looking both way to cross a street and getting hit by a plane” - CW-S Broad

 

 

 

  

  

Avalanche 1 

Recruitment: 1-2 has 1 Trooper Slot Open, and 1-3 has 1 Trooper Slot Open

Promotions: Strill (Sr. CP to CS), Klown (CP to Sr. CP), Goose (CT to Sr. CT), Tee (Sr. CP to CS), Texas (CR-C to CT), Swanny (CP to Sr. CP), Napkin (CT to Sr. CT), Legia (CS-M to Vt. CT), 

“Hope everybody is keeping safe and staying healthy!” - CC Point

  

 

  

Avalanche 2

Recruitment: 2-1 has 1 Medic and 1 Trooper Slot Open, 2-2 has 1 Medic Slot Open, 2-3 has 1 Trooper Slot Open, 2-4 has 3 Trooper Slots Open.

Promotions: Pheonix (Sr. CT to Vt. CT), Oktapius (Sr. CT to Vt. CT), Scruff (Sr. CT to Vt. CT), Parrot (CP to CS), Parker (CT to Sr. CT).

“Cor is now a Cor-poral, Bjorn ate too many Crayons (again), and TCW released a beta mod. Interesting past few weeks. Also, the quote below 3rd Platoon is wrong” - CS-M Pompano

  

 

  

Avalanche 3

Recruitment: 3-1 has 1 Trooper Slot Open, 3-2 has 1 Marksman and 1 Trooper Slot Open, and 3-4 has 1 Trooper and 1 Medic Slot Open.

Promotions: Popeye (CT to Sr. CT)

"Lava is a nerd.” - CC Andromeda

  

 

 

  

Avalanche 4

Recruitment: 4-1 has 1 Trooper Slot Open, and 4-3 has 1 Medic Slot Open.

Promotions: Garviel (CP to CS), Dalton (CR-C to CT), Fennec (CT to Sr. CT).

“RTO's killin the game, 4th platoon always ready to destroy the clankers” - CI-P Buggs

  

  

 

Acklay 1

Recruitment: N/A

Promotions: Bork (CR-C to CT), Poseidan (Sr. CT to Vt. CT).

"Recon is complete. Got some training to catch up on!" - CC Lava

  

  

Acklay 2

Recruitment: N/A

Promotions: Scard (CP to Sr. CP).

"Stay safe everyone" - CS-M Ricochet

  

 

 

 

 

 

Razor

News: ITA has closed for this cycle, but keep your eyes open for the next announcement. In the meantime, feel free to attend any voluntary flight training hosted by members of Razor if you are interested in honing your flying abilities!

Promotions: Frisk (Ensign to Sr. Ensign), Legal (Sr. Cadet to Ensign), Hungarian (Ensign to Sr. Ensign), Zoro (Sr. Cadet to Ensign), Church (Sr. Cadet to Ensign), Rive (Sr. Petty Officer to Vt. Petty Officer)

“NO PRESS! NO PRESS!" CX Jackson

 

 

 

Mynock

News: Mynock recently underwent some changes, including some much needed discord channels.

Promotions: Vanilla (CR-C to CT).

Delta (CS-M to 2nd LT (CC)), Misha (CT to Sr. CT), Seejers (Sr. CT to CP), Scrungo (CT to Sr. CT)

“Please congratulate Zulu on managing to delete every Mynock channel in record time” - CC Delta

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

_{501st News Team opinion doesn’t reflect the opinions of the entire community. If you’d like to help the news team bring in new information, you can by signing up for the news team, submitting an article, posting a piece of media or getting publicity for a custom event you’re hosting. For those interested, please contact either CX-X Canik, CT Momentum, or one of the editors for more information. Your voice matters, let it be heard. We’re currently looking for writers to collect stories, media and content. Feel free to leave comments  below on what you think.  Also please consider donating to the 501st to help pay for server costs and help keep this community alive and well maintained.}

 

_{Publisher: CX-X Canik
Assistant Publisher: CT Momentum}

_{Chief Newsletter Correspondent: CX-X Canik
Correspondents: CM Sunshine, CW Super
Graphic Designers (Headers, BARC, etc): CS Jupiter, CT Dragon}

The 91st Mobile Reconnaissance Corps

 

 

    Overlooking the port town of Kavala from the hills to the East, a team of clone troopers, armor emblazoned in red markings, observes CIS movement. A marksman scopes in on his rifle, lining up a beautiful headshot on a MAAWS equipped B1, steadying his breath.  Next to him, his squad lead zooms in on a T-Series in a fortified building, paying careful attention to its surroundings. The team leader taps his foot, scanning the edge of town. His medic taps his fingers on his carbine. This is what they do. Observe, and assault, but no one wants to observe anymore. Their blood’s itching for a fight.

 
    “Everyone ready?” The squad lead asks over the squad’s radio, bringing a strange relief to everyone’s senses. After a few affirmatives, he calls up his platoon wide frequency.
“All Kyber callsigns, this is Kyber 1-1. Times one T-Series located. Mission is a go, over.” A moment later, four LAAT’s scream overhead, and Kyber 1-1 advances quickly down the hill to begin their long awaited assault on the town. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

91ST ENTERS THE FRAY

 

 

    The 91st Mobile Reconnaissance Corps came into GARC at the end of 2019, joining the famed ranks of the 212th, 101st, and the 501st. While their name implies their primary mission, recon, they are experts in assault as well, with their own squadron LAAT’s, the “Nova Aerial Force”, and the “Beskar” Mechanized Detachment of Bantha’s. At the time writing of this article, Kyber is in the beginning transition steps from Platoon sized to Company, as the unit quickly grows. 

 

    We got to sit down with some of the members of the 91st and talked about their preferences and what it's like to be in the 91st. As we talk with them, it might come as no surprise that they are a lot like us. Many of their members spend their off time playing games together and working in their respective C-shops. The unit is split into platoons and detachments, with a group of Infantry, Mechanized, and an Air Wing. Though similar in many aspects, it also differs as well.

 

 

 

 

THE INTERVIEWS

 

 

Interviewed: CP - 2412 “Kuro”
 

Anarchy: How is it being in the 91st?
Kuro: Its fun, sometimes the time zones don’t match but the Ops are fun and the community is fun.

 
Anarchy: How long have you been in the 91st?
Kuro: That’s a really good question. I joined sometime last fall, I don’t really remember when I joined.

 
Anarchy: Is the 91st your first StarSim Unit?
Kuro: No, I was in the 212th before.

 
Anarchy: What is your preferred MOS?
Kuro: Mechanized, since I am the Mechanized Lead.

 
Anarchy: What squad are you in?
Kuro: Beskar Mechanized Detachment.

 
Anarchy: What is your role in the squad?
Kuro: I am the head of the Detachment.

 
Anarchy: What is your main asset as mechanized?
Kuro: Our main asset is the Bantha.

 
Anarchy: What do you like doing when not in official Ops?
Kuro: I like doing C-Shop stuff or just play other games.

 

 

Interviewed: CS-6824 “Penguin"

 
Anarchy: How is it being in the 91st?
Penguin: I think being involved with the 91st kind of gives the impression of a very much militarized unit, in the sense where we stand in the hardcore level of Arma, but we also have a good time and can meme around and still get the job done. I think the vast majority of our players know what standards we have and they know we like to uphold the highest standards for how our guys handle, so overall I thinks it’s a good mix on how the unit runs and also by the players that we have inside the community.

 
Anarchy: How much time have you been in the 91st?
Penguin:  I've been in a little under 10 months now.

 
Anarchy: Is the 91st your first StarSim Unit?
Penguin: Yes, this is my first.

 
Anarchy: What is your preferred MOS and why?
Penguin: Oooh that’s a tricky one… I would have to say… RTO or JTAC depending on the mission obviously. I think its, you know as much people like being on the ground in Team Lead, Squad Lead, and even Platoon Lead positions, I think there is always certain roles that get placed on the lower end of the spectrum, which is for example... Your marksmen aren’t going to be in a Platoon level, your heavy gunners and auto rifleman aren’t going to be in the Platoon level... I think I like being the RTO because I get the best of both worlds, where I am working with a close nitch group of guys but I also kind of work with the big broad end elements such as our Detachments with both Mechanized and Aviation, so I like to have the broadness of working alongside everybody rather than just being with a few people during Operations and such.

 
Anarchy: What squad are you in?
Penguin: I am currently the First Sargent for the 1st Platoon

 
Anarchy: What is your role in the squad?
Penguin: Technically I am the 2IC for the Platoon Lead and I can back up any role I need to go to.

 
Anarchy: Do you like your current role?
Penguin:  Yeah, I thoroughly enjoy it. I kind of get everything. I am both the part time RTO, so I get to do whatever I want any way, but also I am in a leadership role which means I can still give and take orders as well as kind of help the flow of the unit.

 
Anarchy: What do you like doing when not in official Ops?
Penguin: I personally like playing with my (R6) Siege team they are kind of my go to. I enjoy playing with them and winning tournaments and just having a good time.

 

 

 

 

GENERAL INFO

 

 

    The 91st holds Main Operations on Wednesday’s and Saturday’s, with fun ops at various, unscheduled times. They maintain an active community, with a Discord of over 400 members (found HERE). In addition, both units (the 501st and 91st) are free to join each other during fun ops, and the majority of the 91st Main Operations are GARC friendly. So, next time you need a little more red in your life, be sure to check out the 91st, and see if you can't make some friends! Remember, we are stronger together!

 

    Next time, we’ll be checking out some troopers who can’t wait to drop in and the changes that have happened in the bottom half of the 501st team speak.

_{Publisher: CX-X Canik}

_{Main Editor: CT Momentum}

_{Journalists: CT Sentinel, CX-X Shnuffles, CI-C Anarchy}

_{Photos: CS Jupiter}

_{Banner: CT Dragon}