Invasion of Verdansk

The Invasion of Verdansk was a military operation featured in the Special Ops mode of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare. It was conducted by Al-Qatala under the command of Khaled Al-Asad, shortly after the death of Russian General Roman Barkov and was a prelude to the War Against Al-Qatala conflict.
==Background==
In the aftermath of Barkov's death, Victor Zakhaev, a Russian arms dealer, approached Khaled Al-Asad, Al-Qatala's new leader, by offering a deal to provide funds that could rebuild their army with weapons and vehicles. The organization had suffered heavy losses during recent events as a result of Western and Russian operations.
In exchange, Khaled Al-Asad appointed Zakhaev as his new advisor to Al-Qatala. They then formed a plan to put pressure upon both the West and Russia by luring them into a large conflict issue and re-igniting old tensions. To accomplish this goal, he commenced the invasion of the Kastovian city of Verdansk, which was historically rebuilt by those nations after the Cold War.
With funding from their new benefactor, Al-Qatala was able to mobilise a strong army with tanks and helicopters, and began their rapid invasion into the city of Verdansk via the Caucasus Mountains.
==Events==
Since Verdansk was one of the largest cities of Kastovia, this also proved to be another positive factor to strengthen Al-Qatala's occupation of the city, since the city could be used as a giant base of operations for the group to stock, develop, transport, and trade weapons and other materiel by using several landmarks in the city. In addition, its location and mountainous terrain meant that foreign military intervention would take longer to commence once the local communications were cut.
Despite having good infrastructure characteristics with a military base and telecommunications services, Kastovian authorities were not able to track any incoming enemy personnel around the country's borders since Al-Qatala's troops were supplied with technologies provided by Zakhaev to infiltrate the country without being detected.
Details about this invasion were discovered from pieces of intelligence collected on the field by the Arm-4 team during the execution of later Armistice Operations aimed at crippling Al-Qatala's network in Verdansk.
===Arklov Peak Military Base Raid===
On Tuesday, March 3rd, 2020, at 03:00 hours (GMT+3), Al-Qatala troops launched multiple airstrikes on the Arklov Peak Military Facility, setting multiple hangars and airfield sections on fire, weakening military response capability throughout the city. Kastovian troops responded with anti-aircraft fire. There were also reports that buildings on nearby zones across Sector 1 (Verdansk North), such as Blocs 14, 15, 23, Lozoff Pass, Riverside and Jarvdinsk Spomenik were either burning or damaged as a result of secondary airstrikes.
===Siege of Verdansk Stadium===
At 08:11 hours, Al-Qatala launched an attack from Overpass Parking Plaza B, near the East gate and Plaza C of the Acropolis National Arena. During an emergency evacuation, a nearby Kastovian military checkpoint was attacked by Al-Qatala troops. This caused a panic amongst a crowd consisting of sports fans that was arriving for a game scheduled for later on in the day. Several people ran towards both North and South gates to escape the ensuing gunfight. Al-Qatala troops then attacked the Military Triage Center at the North Gate of the Arena, killing hundreds of civilians in the process. Within one hour, Al-Qatala advanced through the West Gate and finally took control of the entire Verdansk Stadium area.
===Battle of Downtown Tavorsk District===
At 11:00 hours, Al-Qatala forces bombed and seized the Acropolis National Bank at the financial district after invading Downtown Tavorsk District by entering Bloc and Monument Roundabout through the captured West and South gates of the Stadium. Flames also broke out at the bank's rooftop and nearby SKN Broadcast building. The Kastovian army took massive casualties after a fierce battle against Al-Qatala tanks and helicopters. Eventually, the unit in Tavorsk was overrun and destroyed. Following the assault at the financial district, more Al-Qatala troops advanced to the Design district and breached the XK Architects Building where more civilians, who had been trapped inside, were killed. Several minutes later, the terrorists captured the building, securing Downtown Tavorsk.
===Verdansk West Sector Offensives===
====Siege of Verdansk Hospital====
After establishing several crypto farms and a financial operation center in Downtown Tavorsk, Al-Qatala armies pushed towards West Verdansk (Sector 2) by crossing the West Bridge and entered the Verdansk Hospital. During the attack, AQ's troops attacked field hospital barracks located west of the main building, that were treating several wounded personnel from the Kastovian Army. More shootings occurred at the Northwestern tower of the Hospital, where fire also broke out at the 7th floor. Several medical personnel were taken hostage and forced at gunpoint to abandon other patients in order to assist wounded Al-Qatala troops.
====Western Verdansk Raids====
Al-Qatala then advanced further Northwest by passing through the Great Bridge, conducting raids inthe Atlas Superstore and Airport Maintenance Areas as a setup to attack the Verdansk International Airport. However, around 11:20 hours, they were met with some small resistance from local militia composed by residents from Torsk Bloc, who were decimated by enemy infantry and tanks in less than an hour. Without any further reinforcements from the Kastovian Army, Al-Qatala easily captured the Verdansk Graveyard, Zhokov Boneyard, the nearby junkyard, Storage Town, and Airport Maintenance.
===City of Verdansk Port Siege===
At 13:40, multiple roads across East Verdansk (Sector 5) connected to both North and Central Sections were blocked by the Kastovian army in an effort to protect the civilian evacuation site at the City of Verdansk Port. As a result of the blockade, several people were moving through Krovnik Farmland grounds on foot to reach the port. A gunfight against Al-Qatala ensued at the docks as several boats and trucks were arriving to rescue civilians from the Port. Al-Qatala was able to gain control of the Port and the nearby Zordaya Prison Complex.
===Battle of Verdansk Airport===
====Verdansk International Airport air bombings====
At 14:00, the convoy responsible for capturing major areas throughout West Verdansk sector launched a full-scale assault on Verdansk International Airport. Some high-traffic areas, such as Highway Junction and Runway Underpass (South) were struck by airstrikes leaving several dead. A military camp near the west woods was also damaged as a result of the bombings. Shortly after, another wave of airstrikes targeted the Control Tower Complex, causing severe fire and structural to several floors in the control tower, the complete destruction of the Tower Control Room and blockage of several sections of the Administration Building after it was set on fire. A third wave of airstrikes hit the Main Terminal, causing support pillars of the superstructure to crumble alongside the roof, creating lots of gaps and debris scattered around the 3rd floor. A final airstrike was launched above the Terminal gates area, managing to destroy a military camp and tents, and even damaging some logistic aspects of the airport, such as the Baggage Loading, Maintenance Stairs and Garage Bays. A NVSFT Airlines passenger plane was also struck while waiting at the gates, and split into two sections with a giant hole in the middle of the plane and the right wing buried in the ground.
====Main Terminal Raid====
After the airstrike barrage, troops began advancing to the Main Terminal by attacking the Parking Structure. Armored units then rolled through  entrances of both 1st and 3rd floors. The interior was stormed by AQ's troops in two simultaneous raids, one through the first floor, leaving several stores and airport spaces damaged by explosions, including the Lounge Entrance, Check-In, Café Express, Customs and Immigration area, while the second raid was performed at the third floor, after infantry breached both departures and arrivals entrances via the elevated road under the damaged roof. Shortly after, a series of shootings occurred at the Mezzanine Level, Burger Town store, Gate and Tourists Information Roof. After taking both floors, units from both raids rendezvoused on the 2nd floor and were met with some small resistance from Kastovian Army units and airport security. A military SUV and an APC were destroyed in the process. Following the gunfight, more raids were conducted at a Duty Free Clothing Store, Check-In area, the Main Checkpoint and East-West Concourses. Al-Qatala finally took control of the entire Main Terminal after capturing the West Lounge.
====Airport Runway Siege====
In the meantime, two Al-Qatala armored units pushed through the outskirts of the Terminal in order to crush the remaining Kastovian army troops. The first group advanced from the captured South Runway Underpass earlier in the battle and attacked the Kastovian military camp at the Terminal gates, while a second group of tanks was able to conquer the Three Hangars area and destroy the tent protecting the East side of the gates. While most of the infantry managed to capture the Terminal, the remaining Kastovian Forces outside in the gates were crushed after being flanked by both tank units at the Runway. After an extensive battle, Al-Qatala finally managed to win the battle and control the Verdansk International Airport.
===Northern Verdansk Offensive===
Al-Qatala launched another offensive across the North Sector of the city to capture the remaining areas in order to obtain all energy resources to develop and transport weapons in the city. The first phase was conducted by the army group responsible for capturing the Verdansk International Airport, who managed to capture Blocs 16 and 17 after encountering soft resistance from local police. Troops were then able to seize control of the entire Gora Dam complex by moving through the Gora Tunnel to the Sluice Gates and advancing north of Bloc 17 to reach the West and East entrance. There, Al-Qatala was able to take control of the city's entire power supply distribution network which they would use to to supply future arsenal warehouses near the Arklov Peak Military Facility.
The second phase was conducted in areas on the outskirts of the military base, with the first group capturing Bloc 23 and Jarvdinsk Spomenik. At 15:00, the second group advancing from Bloc 16 and raided a village at Riverside. There, they captured houses where several citizens were held as hostages then executed afterwards. Al-Qatala was once again met with small resistance from a police station nearby, which they later overran. They also managed to capture Crash Site and Lozoff Pass before regrouping with the first group at Military Base.
The third phase of the offensive was conducted by both groups whose goal was to capture Karst River Quarry to control its railway. They were able to occupy more civilian areas like Blocs 14, 15 and a WHP Camp, encircling the area around and successfully occupying the quarry afterwards.
===Final Offensives===
The Al-Qatala units from Arklov Peak Military Base later launched several raids at Eastern Verdansk sector and took control of the remaining agricultural landmarks, such as Gorengard Lumber Yard, Krovnik Farmland and Karst Bridge. Eventually, troops managed to capture the Zordaya Prison Complex and use it as a concentration camp site for prisoners of war, where torture and other atrocities were committed.
After regrouping at the Verdansk Hospital, Al-Qatala initiated the final offensive to take control of the entire city and secure the last sectors of railway in order to connect the Quarry to the airport to allow weapons obtained at deals to be transported into the warehouse in Northern Verdansk.
Preliminary raids were condcuted in both Barakett Promenade West and East neighborhoods, where another bloodbath had occured, with more shootings and atrocities against civilians. The Verdansk Train Station was captured just shortly after the Barakett Promenade Raids. The remaining civilians trapped at Novi Grazna Hills were later executed or taken to the Zordaya Prison Complex camp. At the end of the day, after seizing control of the Kart Racing Track, Grazna Hills and Zozsni Spomenik, Al-Qatala finally managed to control and occupy Verdansk entirely.
==Aftermath==
===Al-Qatala occupation of Verdansk===
After the successful occupation of the city, Al-Qatala was able to use Verdansk as a base of operations and use local infrastructure in order to enhance their supply network, thus strengthening the terrorist group.
The captured Arklov Peak Military Base and several facilities across the city were assigned to Almalik, an AQ landlord, in order to develop weapons, including Ballistic Missiles, and store them around the city in various safehouses. Scramblers were also planted around the Verdansk Stadium area to encrypt comms and hide the locations of the Warehouses.
The Acropolis National Bank was assigned to The Banker, a British financier tasked to weaponize generated profits by laundering money through AQ's system of crypto server farms spread out across Downtown Tavorsk District.
The Karst River Quarry and the city's railroads were assigned to El Traficante, a South American smuggler. He used these railways to transport contraband and weapons produced in Almalik's warehouses across Verdansk by train, with the captured Riverside villages being used as Safehouses to hide profits and documents linked to his accounts.
The Verdansk International Airport was assigned to Zakhaev, so that he could weapons from abroad. Other areas throughout West Verdansk sector, such as Storage Town and Atlas Superstore, were used to stock cargo obtained in these weapons deals. The captured WHP Camp was also used as a way to disguise the weapons as medical shipments.
The Zordaya Prison Complex was still being used as a concentration camp for prisoners of war of the invasion and was assigned to Zakhaev's mercenaries. There, prisoners were forced to fight in brutal cage matches against other prisoners in the showers room at the Gulag.
Finally, the BCH4 Broadcast station near the Verdansk Stadium turned into the main operations center for Khaled Al-Asad. Al-Qatala troops had breached the building and taken several staff hostage, forcing them to work for their occupiers.
===Formation of Armistice===
Russia, caught off guard by the invasion, attempted to stem the tide but lost near-complete control of the city and its borders around the Caucasus.
Western powers, having previously cooperated with Russia to rebuild Verdansk, also took special interest into the new development of Al-Qatala, since they were reports that a Russian arms dealer known to Captain Price had supplied the invasion. The Russian government agreed to cooperate with Western powers resulting in the formation of Armistice. Control of Operations was handed over to a joint command of CIA agent Kate Laswell and Sergeant Kamarov. Laswell brought experience she had gained in the fight against Al Qatala in Urzikstan and was joined by Captain Price, who led field operations in the country.
However, despite this newfound cooperation, there was still some underlying tension within the Armistice due to a lack of trust between the operators.
===Armistice Operations===
Laswell and Kamarov launched several operations aimed at stopping Al-Qatala's access to weapons, funds, intelligence and hardware. These were accomplished by eliminating high value targets within the Al-Qatala's network in Verdansk.
==Civilian casualties==
Multiple individuals have been identified in intel collected from the battlefield during Armistice Operations. These intel sources include SMS text messages and photos stored in abandoned phones. Many of the missed calls and undelivered messages trace back to the day of the invasion. Other intel sources included "Missing" flyers displayed around Verdansk, as people sought to find missing loved ones.
These individuals include:
*Stefan (SMS Olena)
*Roman (SMS Olena)
*Sava (SMS Olena)
*Mustafa (SMS Baba)
*Evgeny (SMS Mom)
*Unknown Lyubov's Girlfriend (SMS Lyubov)
*Vadym Karpenko
*Antonina Morozova
*Yana Kostyuk
*Anton
Category:Conflicts