2nd Pathfinders Detachment
***************confidential******************
Nadab, as requested, a reconoiter of the 4 Holes Mining Facility was completed. If you need further information, or wish to discuss further services, do not hesitate to contact me.
(Stop in and see me about your new duties. Pass the word to your "Affiliates", that if they like the Pathfinders services, we are available.)
Overview and history:
The 4 Holes mining facility was originally erected by Omni-Mining soon after colonization of RK. The easy access to a particularly notum-rich vein is possible thru an ancient Meteor strike, somewhere in the dark past. Mining is concentrated in this crater.
Approx 1.5 yrs ago, during a Clan uprising, control was lost to the Clans. To date OTAF has not made significant efforts to retake the site.
Physical aspects:
The mining site is a self-contained community, allowing workers and security staff to live on-site. Housing, shops and a multi-story building, presumably the HQ, are located in the SE corner of the crater.
There are 3 entrances to the mines themselves.
790x1745 is on the SW, but appears to be currently unused.
There are 2 entrances on the North side of the crater, 830x1866, and 908x1882. With the second being used as a primary source. The first will be discussed later in the report.
Site access:
There are 2 main roads into the facility, from the West and South. Both are elevated, ramping down into the facility, and are exposed to most of the facility. In other words, very defendable, and NOT recommended for use.
Defensive capabilities onsite:
The Defending forces currently used consist of approx 18-20 guards, led by a "Foreman"(908x1713). Guards are scattered around the site, but generally are posted at or near the Smelter (967x1810), and approaches leading to the smelting operation. Several civilian technicians are also in the area, but wouldnt effect a raid force. Also seen onsite is an "Unionist Agitater", which appears to be the Clan version of a "Political Officer"(9839x1768). There were no Weapons Turrets or Mechs seen operating in the area.
Strategic Targets:
The primary Target of the mining operation would be the Smelting operation. This is the sole reason of the facility. In order to successfully attack the smelter, it will be necessary to eliminate the defending forces. Priority targets of this goal would be the Foreman and the Agitater. With the these two out of the way, the defending troops will be leaderless and disheartened.
There is an unknown type machinery, (836x1868), on the North side of the crater. I made a hands-on scout of this machine, never having seen its like before. This piece of equipment IS A HOLOGRAM. It does NOT exsist, and is potentially a trap for attacking forces. The mine entrance is also fake. I was not able to discern any reason for this to be here.
The smelting operation itself is quite simple. A conveyer belt brings materials from the mine entrance, to a compactor. From there another conveyer drops the materials into the smelter itself. Collector tubes take the material to a refining process and from there to an underground facility to be put in containers.
Recommendations:
Primary Target - Smelting Process
Option #1- Long term disabling
Charges placed at the compacter/smelter/refining process machinery will disable the site for upwards of 3-4 months. I base this on the fact that the Clans do not have ready access to replacement machinery, forcing them to order from off-world. Two charges placed on each piece should be sufficient.
Option #2 - Short term disabling
Charges placed on the conveyer belts/collector tubes would stop production without destroying assets that may one day be needed by Omni-Mining. Also recommended is placing a charge at the base of the tower holding the Buckets coming from the mine itself.
Secondary Targets:
Target #1: The Clans have set up a Storage Facility at 988x1864, in the NE corner. This is not readily visible, and is guarded by a single sentry and surrounded by a chain-link fence. Finished Product is stored here, pending transport. One charge should be sufficient to start a chain-reaction.
Target #2: The unused mine entrance at the SW of the facility should be considered for a strike. While unused, the annoyance factor of its destruction makes it a worthwhile secondary target.
Target #3: The presence of the hologram is noteworthy. Time constraints permitting, the investigation of this could prove worthy.
Raid Venue/Approach:
The Roadways are definatly NOT recommended for use in the attack. Suggested approach would be either a fast repel from the crater edge or airborne assault from the south. With the Foreman as initiall target.
Force recommendations:
One Heavy DD team would be the minimum recommended force used to strike this facility. Two teams would allow better force balance, and 3 or 4 teams would allow multiple targets struck simutanously. While the average sentry posted here is not very well trained/expirienced, they are well known for their toughness and persistance.
Submitted by:
Chief Warrant Officer Gunfytr
2nd Pathfinders Det.
*Pathfinders: When u absolutely HAVE to have something blown up overnight!*