Summary
We picked up our newly purchased fuel truck, and set up some defensive lines to protect its route to Naudeh. Our convoy was interdicted between Zaranj and Ali’s oil, by Maku militia that had decided to ambush us with forces including a suicide bomber who attempted to detonate his car into Fortress and Guardian. Meanwhile Bastion fended off another prong of this attack at the junction between Landay and Maku. The fuel truck was diverted Northeast to Zaranj, where we came under suppressive sniper fire, and motorised enemy forces.
In the confusion, the fuel truck and one of our SUVs were separated from the main force, which allowed one enterprising hostile to steal the SUV and chase the fuel truck all the way back to our Airfield base. This, and the absence of alert garrisoning forces, allowed the fuel truck to be liberated, and it was subsequently driven to the Northern commander’s outpost.
All groups formed up and decimated the troops garrisoning the outpost, and returned the fuel truck to base to regroup. An unarmed trio, made up of Guardian and Citadel operators were then escorted to Naudeh in the fuel truck, where they were allowed entrance after being searched. They were subsequently stopped by men claiming their paperwork hadn’t been completed properly and they would take the truck into the town for the elder. Without any weapons, they were forced to relinquish control of the fuel truck, and it drove away West, before the groups covering the Northern checkpoint lost visual on it between Naw and Maku.
The unarmed group continued into town and negotiated with the elder for payment, arguing that his men betraying his trust was not our issue, and suggesting that we might be allowed to keep our weapons, or agree a codeword with his more trusted men, so this would not happen again. They secured a large golden frog, and hastily made their exit. As they reached the edge of town, word must have reached the Maku commander that we had men in Naudeh, and they sent a force to attack. We sustained minimal critical injuries, but had to abandon one of our vehicles in the retreat.
After regrouping back at base, a small group went back out to secure this vehicle, with one of the Stronghold suits leading the charge. Looking at the budget after this significant under-performance, we need a big win or we’re forfeiting gear to still get paid this month.