Anatoli Marchenko listened as attentively as he could when given the first briefing of the operation, still in some measure of disbelief. His impromptu force had already committed non negligible violence in its efforts to support the Eastern Presidency. But this coordination with the military to do war in the middle of the country still took some time to digest. 

He did not say much in the meeting with the other officers, only nodding politely. These were true military men, more professional if - by their whiskers - less experienced than he and his. He was confident that by his side the objective would be accomplished, but not at great risk to the lives of far more men than any engagement that he had been in, and for the first time in many years at great risk to his own life if enemy artillery and recconaissance could not be dealt with in a timely manner by the combined forces assembled. 

Even when returning to brief his own unit about their assignment he was somewhat dazed by the occurrences of the day. Though there was no fear of death in the people under his command, there was anxiety regarding the success of the operation, and the aftermath. Well, in the documents he would draft before the assault at least there would be records that his operational orders were with the best intentions. 

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[u]Sokol Group OPORD[/u]

Task Organization:

The paramilitary platoons are organized in an ad-hoc fashion more for record-keeping and cooperation with other units rather than internal use, with platoons moving interchangeably between companies if required. In internal use within the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Sokol group remains organized as follows:

1st Company (Motorized Infantry) (Improvised): 
	1st Pltn. 
	2nd Pltn.
	3rd Pltn.
	4th Pltn.

2nd Company (Motorized Infantry):
	1st Pltn. 
	2nd Pltn.
	3rd Pltn.
	4th Pltn.
	5th Pltn.
	6th Pltn.

3rd Company (Mechanized Infantry):
	1st Pltn. 
	2nd Pltn.
	3rd Pltn.
	4th Pltn.

I.	SITUATION.

Within the area of responsibility the enemy has diverse assets complementing one another including motorized anti-tank capable of negating our initial advantages in armour. There are also mechanized companies within range to reinforce in the event that we can successfully threaten them with enfilade, and if allowed to consolidate they may have localized numeric superiority with artillery support blunting efforts to outmaneuver. 

The enemy also maintains a non negligible advantage in terrain. This will insure reconnaissance units positioned along hills or other features of the sector will provide an advantage in reconaissance. Particular attention should be given before first contact is made in positions like the bridge crossing to Ternovka, or the woods and entrance to Mal Smelyanka where enemy reconaissance will have allowed for disastrous attacks upon our advance. For this same reason a note must be made to excercise extreme fire control such that sound is not compounded with OPFOR advantage in visual threat recognition. 

At the same time these parts of the sector threaten allied forces for the same reason they threaten ours as likely occupied sight lines will also be able to be used against the troops of Route Green to report on their activities. Roads and the territory as a whole in our sector can also be used to create minor encirclements of allied forces in the event their successful advance produces a salient. 

Roads are almost a matter of priority as noticeable differences between them insure that the control of paved routes will determine who decides conditions of engagements. For Sokol group in particular control of roads is critical as our assignment demands of us to create a defence South-West of hill 140 and traversing too much grassland instead of road to get in position may delay our accomplishment of the task in a reasonable time as well as opening our companies to being outmaneuvered rendering the assignment null. 

Air and artillery support is present but the lower priority of Sokol group in queue insures any plans must be made without these assets in mind to insure that allied divisions in more target dense sectors can efficiently use this support. Helicopter support should only be called in the event of a potential rout or destruction of our units in its absence, or in the event enemy maneuvers ensure allied units do not engage at expected times. 

II. MISSION. At 0600 29 August 2004, Sokol group will attack along Route Yellow, clearing OPFOR presence until reaching the road South-West of objective Sablya where a defensive line will be formed. 

III. EXECUTION.

The four platoons of the first company are to split such that each of the four platoons will move independent and occupy the four corresponding heights of our sector routing any OPFOR reconaissance units along the way. First platoon will then leave behind single digits of vehicles at each height to control their sight and relay any information seen about OPFOR to our and allied units. 

Second and third companies are to slightly lag the first waiting until control of the hills ensures we have the vision to guarantee a safe advance North. 

At this point first company will now be lagging second and third and must be on standby to prepare to assist 34th infantry with their soft skinned vehicles if local OPFOR AT units prove more effective or numerous than anticipated. The first platoon of second company is to pass through the wooded road with orders for immediate retreat if an ambush is prepared within. Otherwise it is to occupy the entrance to Mal Smelyanka and wait until the arrival of the other platoons and companies. It will then form defilade together with the rest of second company whilst the third and first head West to form enfilade and eliminate enemy units within Mal Smelyanka. 

Pending reassessment of the working situation Sokol group will then have first and second companies disembark their vehicles and use the cover of Mal Smelyanka to provide cover for an aggressive push across the bridge with third company that is aiming to encircle local mechanized and motorized infantry defences. 

Following destruction, rout or surrender of resistance the road will be used to move North West avoiding enemy artillery and rocket fire. Pending reassessment first and third companies will then move to secure the Southern side of the road for a defence, whilst second company elements will patrol within the region thwart the work of enemy reconaissance units, create a fall-back line in the event the Northern defence is overwhelmed, and assist allied Units in the event it is required. 

[/hider]