Operation: PALE TEMPEST

Operation: PALE TEMPEST was one of the first operations undertaken by the United Nations Space Command early in the Interplanetary War on April 2nd, 2164 to assassinate Koslovic leader Vladimir Koslov with as squad of marines during his visit to a Koslovic space station in the Jovian Moons. 
The operation was ultimately a failure, as Vladimir Koslov escaped to Mars aboard his personal shuttle when the marine squad was spotted and engaged by Koslovic forces. With no hope of completing the objective, the marines were forced to retreat after suffering moderate losses.
==Prelude==
In November 2163, the Friedens suffered a critical loss, as their leader, Nadja Mielke, was assassinated on her way to a command center in the Europan city of Pelagon. This enraged the Friedens, and in December they retaliated with nearly all the military assets at their disposal. A large-scale campaign against Argyre Planitia, the hub of Koslovic activity on Mars, obliterated the city within hours. More fighting occurred during the weeks that followed, as Koslovics scattered into the city's outskirts. By January 2164 the conflicts historically known as the Interplanetary War had officially begun, and once again the Sol system's three main factions clashed.
With conflict erupting across the Sol system, UNSC commanders sought to quickly end coordination among the Koslovics and planned to strategically eliminate the Koslovic leader, Vladimir Koslov, while he was visiting a Koslovic military space station in the Jovian Moons in a plan called Operation: PALE TEMPEST. UNSC marine second lieutenant William Pierce was the perfect candidate for leading the operation, due to his skills, as well as his experience with fighting to Koslovics and his familiarity with the Jovian Moons from the brutal campaign four years prior, and was thus selected to lead the operation.
==Operation==
On April 2nd, 2164, along with a small squad of marines under his command, William carefully snuck onto the station. However, plans quickly fell apart as their presence became known on the station, and Koslovic soldiers surrounded William and his marines inside one of the station's hangars. Attempting to push towards Koslov's personal quarters, William's marines fought hard to escape the hangar and move further into the station, but all efforts were met with unbreakable defense from more Koslovic soldiers.
The operation became a true failure when Vladimir Koslov's personal shuttle fled the station, bound for a safer hideout on Mars. William, attempting to salvage the operation, decided to extract from the station, drawing his squad away from the battle and putting up fierce resistance to the now-advancing Koslovics. Despite the unfortunate loss of half the marines brought with him, William and the surviving marines successfully extracted and returned to one of the UNSC Navy's ships to recover and await further orders.
==Aftermath==
By 2164, the conflict on Mars was still raging, now worse than ever, due to Frieden and UNSC forces rapidly advancing on the defending Koslovics. The campaign lasted two years before the last opposition was dealt with by the UNSC, making it an unquestionable success. However, Vladimir Koslov survived the campaign, fleeing once again to Lake Autolycus on Luna. This escape would not last, as Vladimir Koslov and his family died a short year later in a mysterious bombing, vastly reducing the Koslovic combat effectiveness. By 2170, the Koslovics were wiped out along with the Friedens, and the Unified Earth Government was formed to manage the Sol system.
Category:Gamestrider1
Category:Operations
Category:Battles
Category:Interplanetary Era