Special Recon Team

The **Special Recon Team (SRT)** is a specialized combat arms unit operating under the jurisdiction of USSOCOM and the United States Army under USASOC, specializing in forward-reconnaissance, intelligence gathering, and direct-action missions. While the SRT is officially a United States Army unit, special operators from across SOCOM have been assigned to the unit. Members of the SRT would later become inducted as members of the Space Time Continuum Task Force during the Ground Zero mission.

## Background

### Founding

In 1990 during Operation Desert Shield, it became clear to coalition commander General Norman Schwarzkopf that direct combat with Iraqi forces in Kuwait was imminent. The Iraqi Army's SCUD missile systems posed the greatest threat to any attempted combat operations, and Schwarzkopf devised a plan to deal with them first and foremost. Calling together all of the special operations units at his disposal, Schwarzkopf founded what would become known as the "Special Recon Team." The gaggle of Delta Force, Green Beret, and Navy SEAL operators were tasked with moving behind Iraqi lines and reconnoitering (Then later destroying) Iraqi SCUD missile sites. Following the completion of their initial mission, they also executed raids on Iraqi POW camps that freed many coalition prisoners and civilians.

*"Gentlemen, your mission is one of incredible importance if this war is to succeed. You must shine a beacon of death upon these bastards so bright, that the devil himself will be helpless but to come running."*

This famous quote from the briefing given to the SRT members by Schwarzkopf became the origin for their motto: "Clara Lux Mortis," which translates to "The bright light of death." The pathfinder's torch in the SRT insignia represents the light they shine upon the enemies of the United States via the intelligence operations they preform.

## Operational History

### First Gulf War

The first mission ever executed by the SRT, *Operation Good-Hunting* saw the SRT hunting and destroying Iraqi SCUD missile sites in the deserts of Kuwait. Operating in the areas known as SCUD boulevard and SCUD alley, the coalition of special operators that would become known as the SRT systematically hunted down and destroyed dozens of Iraqi missiles by way of direct-action and coordinated aerial strikes.

Following successful demolition of the Iraqi missiles, the SRT was ordered to move towards Kuwait city and execute raids on POW camps there. The SRT's swift action in Kuwait city freed hundreds of civilian hostages as well as coalition POWs.

### Second Gulf War, Global War on Terror (OIF IV, VII/OEF)

Following the 9/11 attacks, a number of special operations units were immediately deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan in an effort to deliver a swift and deadly response to these unforgivable acts of terror. The SRT was among the special operations units deployed to these hostile zones, and the unit remains a key part of the Global War on Terror because of the critical intelligence they gather.

### Syrian Civil War

Part of classified operations to support pro-democracy insurgents in the area, the SRT was deployed to Syria in 2015 in order to execute a number of top-secret military actions against Bashar al-Assad's dynastic regime.

### Kazakhstan

In response to Russian and Chinese forces moving into Kazakhstan in December 2019 to build military launch sites for their own space forces, the US army deployed several recon divisions to Kazakhstan to monitor the situation. The deserted and abundant land in the country was highly preferable for all three countries who were locked in a race to put military spacecraft into orbit. Instead of directly involving themselves in conflict, Russia armed local militias to fight US ground forces. The plan was successful and throughout the early 2020, US forces and affiliates were being engaged sporadically all over the country.

A Russian backed arms manufacturer who goes only by the name Olev was the man responsible for building and selling the weapons and vehicles to militias. Thus, the SRT was tasked with tracking and capturing him. In late June 2020, the SRT successfully tracks Olev to an arms factory in central Kazakhstan. On the events of the "Prologue" mission, the SRT executes an assault on the factory by disabling his aircraft escape route and clearing through the various compounds. Before he is apprehended, Operation Command (OPCOM) orders the SRT to cancel their current objective and immediately move to a priority objective to the west.

## Disappearance of RT-Star

During a classified clandestine operation in Kazakhstan, one of the SRT's reconnaissance teams, Recon Team Star, disappeared without a trace. Operations Command analyst "Jester," who was monitoring the team's live-feeds at the time, submitted a report on the final moments before RT-Star went completely offline. This report has since been deemed Top-Secret, and is not available for viewing.