THUADAL CALIPHATE MILITARY REPORT
CLASSIFIED: EYES ONLY – CLEARANCE LEVEL ALPHA
MISSION DESIGNATION: OPERATION “SILENT ECHO”
LOCATION: HERD PLANET, SECTOR 9-“GYPSY’S GRAVE”
DATE: [REDACTED]
REPORTING OFFICER: 2ND LT. SY, WITCHWARPER, “The Coquillages #5” TEAM
SUPPORTING PERSONNEL: WO ZYRAXION (MEDIC), PFC PALARANDUSK (FIGHTER), PFC STAKKO (SOLARIAN), SPC. GRZEGORZ (OPERATIVE/SABOTEUR)

—

A little after a month following the capture of Nova Bastion, Silent Sigil (exploration team, 5 members) reactivated a planetary defense cannon while investigating a derelict facility. The cannon engaged the Caliphate Orbital Base (COB) “First Light”, still under construction. The TCS Arcane Sovereign (battlecruiser, Capt. Veyra) intercepted the barrage, but its shields were projected to fail within 10 hours at current cannon rate of fire.

The medivac team sent after Silent Sigil went dark after 5 hours—presumed lost to reactivated Jesken defenses or unknown phenomena.

“The Coquillages” Team was deployed to:
- Neutralize the planetary defense cannon.
- Extract Silent Sigil (status: 1 KIA, 2 critical, 2 wounded, 1 unharmed).
- Prevent COB destruction (delay would set colonization back by 1 month).

Mission Parameters:
- Transport: ATV Explorer (chosen for stealth; regrettable in hindsight).
- Time Constraint: 9-hour ground transit + 1-hour hard deadline before Arcane Sovereign withdrawal.
- Complications: Ghosts. Yes, ghosts.

—

- ATV Transit: 9 hours navigating Herd’s ruins. “All dilapidated buildings look the same.”
- Contact: Intermittent comms with Silent Sigil confirmed survivors but revealed debris traps and “shadows moving in the dark” (see: ghosts).
- Ambush: Jesken defense drones engaged en route.

Actions:
- PFC Stakko drove aggressively, swerving through rubble.
- PFC Palarandusk lobbed electro-grenades with precision.
- WO Zyraxion jury-rigged the ATV’s turret into a Drift-charged railgun (permanently damaged suspension).
- 2nd Lt. Sy fried two drones with arcane lightning.
- Casualties: None. ATV Casualties: Significant. Stakko’s driving described as “a war crime” by SPC. Grzegorz.

Collapsed Facility: Stakko and Sy (in fox form) infiltrated through debris. Found:
- 1 KIA: Lt. Mathias (crushed by falling masonry).
- 2 Critical: Comms Officer Koungos and Medic Soheli (pinned, unconscious).
- 1 Holding the Line: Heavy Weapons Specialist Talib, using exploding batteries to repel ghostly figures (*“They don’t like light or electricity. Also, they *hate* foxfire.”*—Sy).
- 2 Wounded: Android Vesharaf and Recon Mastoora, stabilizing the injured.

Actions:
- Sy telekinetically dragged Koungos/Soheli free.
- Stakko applied combat stims (stolen from Zyraxion’s medkit).
- Dragonkin Dilemma: Palarandusk and Zyraxion cleared debris manually. “Next time, we bring a bulldozer.” —Zyraxion.

Approach:
Cannon embedded in a crater, guarded by translucent Jesken soldiers (armed with *force-infused* rifles).

Engagement:
- Sy’s Hypothesis: Ghosts = residual Jesken energy + Herd’s ambient magic = “Angry holograms with bullets.”

Tactics:
- Electro-Grenades (Grzegorz) + Lightning Spells (Sy) = 100% effective at dispersing ghosts.
- 1 Escape: A ghost fled toward the cannon controls.

Discovery:
Cannon fed by subterranean excavators (cause of local tremors). Terminals targeted orbital objects—*including COB*.

Solution:
- Sy and Stakko hacked the terminal (“brute-force magic”).
- Target Override: Cannon fired at Herd’s moon (collateral damage: *minimal*).
- Full Shutdown: Password-locked under Caliphate control. 20+ inactive cannons located planetwide.

* Sub-Facility: Generators online, disembodied hands/feet scattered (“Either a failed experiment or Jesken’s idea of decor”—Grzegorz).
* Automatons: 3 destroyed (same models as Nova Bastion).
* Loot: Weapons, tools, and experimental grenades confiscated (“For science.” —Stakko).

—

* Silent Sigil Extracted: All survivors returned to Nova Bastion. Lt. Mathias’s body recovered.
* Cannon Neutralized: COB “First Light” saved. Arcane Sovereign withdrew with *minor shield damage*.
* Ghostly Threat: Confirmed weak to electricity/light. Origin unknown—possible link to Coalescence Core or Jesken necro-tech.
* Facility Status: Booby-trapped, haunted, and strongly recommended for orbital bombardment.

Casualties:
* Friendly: 1 (Silent Sigil).
* Enemy: 3 drones, 6 ghosts, 3 automatons.
* ATV: Emotionally scarred.

Recommendations:
1. Deploy Al-Munawwirūn to the crater site—*something* is warping the atmosphere.
2. Sweep for inactive cannons—20+ potential threats remain.
3. Issue Stakko a driver’s license (or don’t).
4. Investigate ghost phenomenon—priority for Sy and Thuadal Arcanists.

Final Notes:
* Heroism: Ashes Team operated under extreme time pressure, adapting to mechanical, spectral, and logistical threats.
* Concerns: Jesken tech is still active after centuries. What else is waiting?
* Quote of the Mission: “Next time, we take the interceptors.” —Everyone

—

END REPORT
SIGNED:
2ND LT. SY, “LES COQUILLAGES” TEAM
“We jump into hell so you don’t have to.”

—

- Tactical Map: [Attached]
- Ghost Footage: [Classified—see Command for debrief]
- Stakko’s Driving Record: [Expunged on request]

—

— DISCOVERED INTEL: JESKEN EVACUATION ORDER
Location: Sub-facility beneath planetary defense cannon, Herd (formerly K-7/“Elysian Fields”)
Document Type: Public evacuation notice, hidden datapad
Date: [Estimated: ~10 years prior, based on Jesken Stratocracy records]

—

Citizens of K-7,

The Council of Strategic Ministries regrets to inform you that your world, K-7 (“Elysian Fields”), has been designated for immediate and total abandonment. This decision was not made lightly, but it is final.

The Reality:
K-7’s soil is depleted. Its industries are inefficient. Its people are starving. We have stretched our capacity to the breaking point to keep this colony alive, but the numbers do not lie: K-7 is no longer viable. Every ration sent here is a ration stolen from a soldier on the front lines. Every unit of energy spent keeping your lights on is energy that could power a warship against the Uzadour threat.

The Stratocracy exists to serve its people—but it cannot serve a planet that cannot serve itself.

The Order:
All inhabitants are to report to the nearest evacuation hub within 72 hours. Transport ships will depart on a strict schedule. There will be no extensions.

Only essential personnel and approved assets will be evacuated. Priority will be given to scientists, engineers, and those with critical skills. All others will be processed on a space-available basis.

Personal belongings are limited to one standard-issue container per adult. No exceptions. Attempts to smuggle additional goods will result in forfeiture and disciplinary action.

This is not a negotiation. Resistance or refusal to comply will be treated as sedition.

What Awaits You:
Evacuees will be relocated to designated reception worlds, where you will be reassigned based on the needs of the empire. Housing, rations, and labor placements will be provided—but do not expect comfort. You are being given a chance to contribute elsewhere. That is more than most get.

What Stays Behind:
K-7 will be sterilized after evacuation. All infrastructure, records, and remaining resources will be destroyed. This is not punishment. It is prevention. We will not leave anything for scavengers, deserters, or enemies to exploit.

Final Notice:
- No pets or livestock will be permitted on evacuation transports.
- No guarantees can be made regarding family or community cohesion after relocation. The empire’s needs come first.
- This planet will cease to exist as a Jesken holding within one standard week. Anyone remaining after the final transport departs will be considered a voluntary casualty of war.

The Prime Minister has spoken. The Ministries have decided. The people have voted.

Your world is ending. Your empire is not.

Report for evacuation—or be left behind.

By order of the Council of Strategic Ministries,
Minister of Population Realignment, High Command

—

1. Historical Context:
* K-7 (“Elysian Fields”) is confirmed to be Herd’s original designation under Jesken control.
* The planet was actively abandoned, not lost in war. This explains the intact but derelict infrastructure, as well as the planetary defense cannons (likely a last-resort measure to deny resources to enemies or scavengers).
* The mention of “sterilization” aligns with the ghostly Jesken soldiers encountered—possible remnants of those left behind or executed during the evacuation.

2. Strategic Insights:
* The Jesken Stratocracy was desperate even 10 years ago, prioritizing front-line resources over colonial sustainability.
* The “Uzadour threat” was already a major concern, suggesting the current war has old roots.
* The destruction of records and infrastructure may explain the lack of data on Herd in Thuadal archives.

3. Operational Impact:
* The planetary defense network was likely activated as a fail-safe during the evacuation, programmed to target any orbital presence (friend or foe) post-abandonment.
* The “voluntary casualty of war” clause implies mass casualties among those who refused or were unable to evacuate. This could explain the hostile residual energy (ghosts) and the disembodied limbs found in the sub-facility.
* The Coalescence Core (from Nova Bastion) may be tied to this event—possibly a failed experiment to revive the planet’s viability or a weaponized last stand.

4. Recommendations:
* Forward to Thuadal Intelligence: Cross-reference with Jesken defector testimonies for confirmation of other “abandoned” worlds.
* Investigate the “sterilization” process: Was it magical, technological, or both? Could it be reversed or weaponized?
* Monitor for similar fail-safes: If Herd has 20+ cannons, other abandoned Jesken worlds may pose identical risks during colonization efforts.
* Psychological Warfare Angle: Use this document to undermine Jesken morale—proof their empire abandons its own.

5. Personal Note (2nd Lt. Sy):
“They didn’t just leave. They erased K-7 from history. And now we’re walking through its grave. If the Caliphate wants Herd, we’d better be ready for more than ghosts and rusted guns. The past here isn’t dead. It’s hungry.”

— END ADDENDUM
APPENDED BY: 2ND LT. SY, “LES COQUILLAGES” TEAM
CLEARANCE: ALPHA-PRIME (EYES ONLY: COMMAND, ARCANIST CORPS, AL-MUNAWWIRŪN)