Op : Bartos (BSM)

[Syd]

=======================================

Dear Mrs Elizabeta Panto,

It is with much regret and sorrow that I write to inform you of the death of your husband.

Colonel Vasco Panto died during active duty for Bacau Socialist Movement Militia, specifically while leading an assault against the separatist PPF forces. We have managed to piece together details of his final days and they show that he and the men of his unit carried out their duties with extreme valour and courage under unusual circumstances.

Early on Saturday the 20th his unit encountered a cache of weapons and equipment belonging to an obviously foreign group of fighters. Colonel Panto patiently waited and his unit observed multiple helicopters deploying foreign fighters. Deciding that finally our plea for assistance had been heard, Colonel Panto decided to meet the foreigners and provide assistance and intel in their mission to destroy the PPF and the suspected Indonesians in the area.

A successful first contact was made by Lieutenant Alfedo and one man from his unit. Colonel Panto made introductions with both Mike Furlong (rank unknown) and Bruce Al'Mighty of the Australian Special Forces. Their purpose was determined and intel was swapped. Due to this first contact our militai forces determined the location of the Indonesian forces.

Colonel Panto's group led a successful destroy mission against the Indonesian camp, and then proceeded to meet with the Australian forces outside the PPF stronghold. Expecting the agreed support from the Australians he led his small group against the stronghold. Vastly outnumbered and in a tactically weak position, Colonel Panto was betrayed by the Australian forces - they retreated without engaging the enemy. His team was wiped out. This betrayal will not be forgotten, and we can assure that future dealings with foreign forces in the field will be treated with appropriate suspicion.

We cannot hope to understand the depth of your grief, after 8 years of marriage and 17 children, we can only hope to offer brief comfort. Your husband discharged his duties with honour and courage, as did all the men in his unit. We ask that you do not harbor resentment against the Australians, as the news that they helped force a diplomatic agreement for the Indonesian withdrawn is a moment of great hope for our small country. With the PPF destroyed and the Indonesians gone, the future is bright for your children. We have agreed to receive training and equipment from the Australians to help form the Army once we have won the elections that will now surely be held. In honour of your husband we will be naming one of our new government buildings after him - 'The Vasco Panto Office of Military Relations'.

respectfully,

Marshall Vincenzo Sumatra.
=====================================

[B MC]

Extracts from the Book "The BSM and me, an intimate account of the Revolution" by Capt Manuel Fabulosa (ret'd).

Now available in no bookshops at the very reasonable price of 150 million Chad Francs.


11 am. A Bacau Socialist Movement (BSM) unit, under the command of Colonel Vasco Panto, a man of cunning and strategy, but who was rumoured to have slept his way to his current command, move into Maliana with the objective of disrupting Pancasila Popular Front (PPF) operations and the aim to make any Indonesian incursion into the area unviable. The day is warm and sunny, like many warm East Timorese days the valiant men of the BSM have seen before. Unlike any typical day though, the air is filled with the sound of gunfire, and the scent of death.

It is not long before the BSM find themselves in their first gunfight of the day. They attack a well defended PPF compound in an expertly timed and planned two pronged assault. It is not to be their first victory of the day however, as the BSM are repelled after the PPF receive support from an unidentified force. Diego, a BSM demolitions expert is captured by the PPF during the attack. Although Diego was later released, he had been subject to appalling torture at the hands of the sadistic PPF, and never recovered from his emotional wounds.

Following the attack, with all hope of rescuing Diego a distant impossibility, the BSM are dejected by the apparent arrival of the Indonesian forces. They had hoped to be able to stop any Indonesian personnel from entering East Timor. Despite this, the BSM are steady in their resolve and move out to locate the Indonesian Forces. The patrol soon find a poorly concealed cache of equipment and light vehicles; it is apparent that this does not belong to Indonesian forces but other International Forces - probably American. Hooray! The international community has at last heard of the plight of the East Timorese people, and sent help.

On seeing troops land from helicopters, a wave of disappointment washes across the faces of the BSM warriors. It is soon apparent that these are indeed foreign troops, but on rendez vous, the turn out to be Australian - Australians! Was it not so long ago that the Australians had killed the BSMs popular leader, Sergio Xanana? None the less, the Australians are commanded by an imposing looking man calling himself Bruce Almighty. Perhaps, after all, they may be here to help? Intel is exchanged between the Australian Forces and the BSM, and a meeting is planned for 3pm.

Uneasy with their new allies, but acting on information received from the Australian forces anyway, the BSM moves out to secure an area thought to be being used as an Indonesian FOB. On arrival, the BSM patrol finds it deserted and booby traps it.

The BSM move on again and RV with an Australian Patrol, led by Mike Furlong at around 2.45pm, before moving up towards a church near the PPF compound. The church was merely a shell of its former self, violated by the heathen PPF. But a patrol of the vandals is seen nearby and engaged by our courageous BSM. All members of the PPF patrol were killed apart from one who was taken prisoner. The prisoner was able to confirm that Indonesian SF were operating in the area, not before having shat his pants, before being executed in a manly, yet humane fashion by Colonel Vasco Panto.

The BSM then moved up, buoyed on by their recent conquest, to attack the PPF compound, believing that they would be supported by friendly Australian troops. No Australian back up was ever received, and the BSM patrol was wiped out.


At approximately 4pm, an Intelligence Officer, under the command of Lt Colonel Rodrigo Pinto received word that the Australians were planning an attack on the PPF compound, and that Indonesian forces would be cut off from providing reinforcements - thus providing an opportunity to secure the compound. The BSM unit, under the command of Lt Col Pinto, a wise and experienced officer, moved into an attack position near the compound. The BSM intelligence officer then received word that compound was only lightly defended and that there may be a captured Australian soldier inside. The Intelligence officer, not wanting to waste any time in saving the life of an innocent then valiantly charged the compound before his comrades could catch up, single handedly killing all PPF forces inside the compound. The Australian captive was not inside.

The BSM found they were unable to contact the Australian forces after this, but reluctantly decided to try to hold the compound in the anticipation that their Australian allies would reinforce them later. The Australian reinforcements never arrived.

Just after nightfall, Lt Col Rodrigo Pinto was killed defending the compound - his head was blown clean off at point blank range by PPF machine gun fire. The second in command of the detachment, took command - though it soon transpired that he was a coward. During a PPF attack a short time later, this cowardly man, who will remain nameless to avoid bringing shame on his family (he had only achieved his rank as his uncle was a former parliamentary member of the Maliana branch of the Bacau Socialist Party), coughed up everything he knew with hardly any persuasion. The murderous bastard PPF scum gave the coward everything he deserved though and executed him. His blabbering had done him no favours.

It was at this point, sometime around midnight, that the ruggedly handsome, witty, charming and intelligent young Captain, Captain Manuel Fabulosa took command, despite taking a devastating bullet wound to the bollocks just minutes earlier. It was under Captain Fabulosa that the PPF onslaught was repelled; Infact so successful was this repulsion that the BSM were now rewarded with the defection of 2 PPF militants.

It was from these 2 defectors that the BSM were able to learn further intelligence. The PPF defectors claimed that the Indonesians had formed an alliance with the treacherous Australians, and that the PPF had themselves turned against their Indonesian allies. This seemed almost too good to be true to the bold young Captain Fabulosa, who set off immediately to discern the truth.

Unsurprisingly, Captain Fabulosa and his bunch of war weary, but well motivated men soon came under fire from the Indonesians after approaching their tents. Further patrols sent out to find the Australians also proved fruitless, which lead Captain Fabulosa to come to the conclusion that the Australians were indeed Indonesian lackeys hell bent on the destruction of East Timor.

None the less, a wry smile soon spread across the dashing Captain Fabulosa's ruggedly handsome visage. He knew that with the PPF, now at loggerheads with the Indonesians, he could now afford to rest his men while his enemies destroyed each other. The BSM set about having a brew, and dared to talk of the future of East Timor, about an East Timor free from the tyranny of the PPF and their nefarious allies the Indonesians.

Soon however, the uneasy calm that had set about the BSM compound was shattered by the homicidal intentions of the treacherous bastard Mike Furlong and his merry band of sadistic psychopaths. The unarmed BSM were slaughtered without warning; Captain Fabulosa was again wounded, with only him and a single comrade making it out alive. Anger coursed through the veins of the BSM. They new now for certain that they had been deceived by the Australians and that they were indeed in great danger. The indomitable Captain Fabulosa, despite his wounds order that the BSM should barricade themselves into the most secure building in the compound and wait it out until morning. And so they did, but with the silence of the night punctuated by the sound of heavy machine gun fire and calls of contact.

The eerie silence of the morning was broken at about 8 am by the banshee like calls of the Australian forces. Their eyes glinting with menace they burst into the compound silencing the screams of the innocent civilians with the barrels of their guns and their grenades. Soon, all that was left was the heroic Captain, wounded once again, and a trusted sergeant. Two men approached the Captain; one had already been seen by the BSM, and had been referred to as El Gringo Gingero; The other, was little more than a ball of pent up anger wound up tight like a jack in the box, ready to explode.

"Can we form an alliance?" Asked the ginger one gingerly.
"You what!?" Exclaimed the captain and his sergeant whilst looking at each other in a confused manner. "You just wiped us out," continued the suave Captain.
"Yeah, sorry about that but we don't really know what's going on" El Gringo Gingero's colleague interjected.

And so, the Captain and his Sergeant hammered out a deal with an Australian who for reasons unknown appeared unable or unwilling to unleash his pent up anger. $50 million, a crate full of worthless Chad Francs and the promise of Australian economic and technical aid secured the BSM's willingness to once again assault the Indonesian advisory forces.

Soon after, the heavily injured Captain was relieved by a high ranking Bacau Socialist Party leader, who refused to give his name and referred to himself only as the accountant. The accountant, in much the same way as Captain Fabulosa, was handsome, intelligent and well endowed. Unlike the Captain though, the Accountant also had a manner of ruthless evil about him, that his men feared.

When the paper work was out of the way, the BSM sped off towards the Indonesians FOB. Like a sand storm they swooped down upon the Indonesians, raining death and destruction. The extinction of the Indonesian forces was almost guaranteed, but for the intervention of the cowardly PPF, attacking the BSM from behind. The BSM returned fire, but they were surrounded and had little hope. The Indonesians and the PPF, after unleashing a hail of badly aimed bullets, left the dying BSM where they lay. Only the accountant, severely wounded by a disfiguring shot to the leg was able to crawl away…

By this time, the Maliana division of the BSM had been decimated with only a handful of new recruits, led by a sergeant, remaining to guard the compound. However, the Australians had by this time, and quite unpredictably, kept to their word and were standing by the valiant, if a little green, new recruits. Wave after wave of PPF and Indonesian forces attacked, but were skilfully beaten back by the remaining BSM with only a little help from the homesick Australians.

By 11.30 am, the BSM's enemies were in tatters. The Indonesians were rapidly withdrawing across the West Timor boarder, with the PPF all but vanquished. 



I think its probably safe to assume that the film will barely resemble the book, and will glorify the actions of the Americans Australians.

[Monk]

Operation Bartos

After Action Report

Callsigns

Uptown one-zero 1st drop

Downtown two-two 2nd drop

Downtown three-three 3rd drop

God four-four Sniper Detachment 4th drop


Mission

Insert via heli drop into Maliana Mountains and establish forward
operating base and begin recce patrols to locate and identify Indonesian
military staging area.

Harass and disrupt enemy movements and cease all hostile activity by
incursion and rebel forces

Locate and remove Key figures within the PPF and the BSM.

Enemy

BSM (civvies dress)

PPF (dpm uniforms)

Indonesian special forces (olive green uniforms)

Key Figures

The Accountant: Name Unknown/ BSM financer and planner.

PPF Commander: Name Unknown/ Leader of PPF forces in East Timor.

Iqumair Salat: KOA controller linked to IRC and recent terror activity
across the world.

11:00 Hrs
Anzac forces at staging area belonging to Hector Manholio a local
landowner with pro Australian beliefs.

Main assault force inserted via Civilian Bell Ranger choppers in 7 loads
of 4 men each.

11:30Hrs
Callsign Uptown 1-0 secure LZ 1 and provide ground security for remaining
drops Downtown 2-2 proceed on Task to locate and identify the PPF
stronghold at Grid ref 061 573 but soon report sightings of several
locals moving around the vehicle cache placed by local agents prior to
insertion. 2-2 ordered to make contact with locals and discern their
intentions. Half section of 1-0 detached to assist.

Downtown 3-3 Proceed on task to secure crossroads near proposed location
for forward operating base Grid ref 063 580.

God 4-4 insert at LZ 2 with 2 man escort and secure LZ before proceeding
on task to get eyes on Indonesian staging area at Grid ref 059 576 once
underway the 2 man escort break off and make way to RV with main assault
force.

13:00 Hrs
Remainder of uptown 1-0 arrive at Vehicle cache to find Captain Bruce
Almighty in talks with one Lieutenant Alfredo of the BSM Information was
exchanged allowing the BSM to move in and operate against the
Indonesians at the staging area and a meeting arranged for 15:00 Hrs

13:30 Hrs
FOB established at Grid ref 063 581 Uptown 1-0 establish command centre
with Downtown 3-3 providing perimeter security.

15:00 Hrs
Downtown 2-2 break off from conducting recces to meet BSM party at pre
arranged RV before returning to FOB

Downtown 3-3 move into PPF area and carry out CTR’s on PPF stronghold while

15:40 hrs
God 4-4 begin relaying eyes on intel to Downtown 2-2 who are re-tasked
to assault the Indonesian camp. 3-3 provide a cut off group at the cross
roads at Grid ref 061574 to deny PPF chance to assist Indonesians. A
message is also sent to the BSM that at agreed time they should attempt to
capture and control the PPF compound if they make an attempt to assist the
Indonesians

16:00 Hrs
The assault force overruns the Indonesian camp and takes 2 prisoners
which are ordered to be returned to FOB for questioning. The BSM capture
the PPF compound

PPF and Indonesians ambush the extracting 2-2 troops forcing them to
split into 2 half sections and one trooper is wounded and captured by
rebel forces the remainder of the Downtown 2-2 half section make it back
to FOB while the other half leading the prisoners back take the wrong
track and lose their way back to FOB it is 30 mins before they return.
Downtown 3-3 launch a successful rescue mission to retrieve the captured
trooper and return him to base unharmed.

18:00 Hrs
One of the Indonesian prisoners is a high ranking special forces Colonel
named Balfour and after a lengthy interrogation a deal is struck for the
Colonel to provide Intel on key members of rebel factions who he claims to
have had dealings with and plans are made for our forces to enter the
Indonesian camp at 07:00 the following morning to continue negotiations.

20:00 Hrs
Downtown 2-2 and 3-3 carry out combined assault on Indonesian camp
angering Colonel Balfour who believed himself now allied to ANZAC forces
and the 07:00 meeting is bought forward Downtown 3-3 return to FOB and
Uptown 1-0 move to RV with Downtown 2-2 who are escorting Colonel Balfour
and his protection team. After informing the Colonel of recent diplomatic
talks between Australia and Indonesia the colonel agrees to overlook the
recent attack on his men and allow us to annex his camp as a forward
staging area but first it must be cleared of remaining PPF forces.

21:30 Hrs
Uptown 1-0 and Downtown 2-2 surround the camp and arrest the men
identified as PPF. 2-2 is then left in place at camp with orders to begin
operations against the PPF and also BSM if they hostile intentions.

22:00 Hrs Uptown 1-0 return to FOB

00:00 Hrs
Downtown 3-3 replaces 2-2 at Indonesian camp 2-2 returns to FOB and Uptown
1-0 Downtown 2-2 begin night time stag

02:00 Hrs
Downtown 3-3 returns to FOB
No enemy activity in area of FOB and all call signs on 50 50 stag rotation.

05:00 Hrs
Two PPF fighters are killed as they approach the FOB all units stand too
but no further enemy contact comes.

06:00 Hrs
All call signs stand too and after seeing to personal admin the FOB is
broken down.

07:00Hrs
Downtown 2-2 and 3-3 proceed onto Indonesian camp while Uptown 1-0 follow
up with vehicles.

08:00 Hrs
Uptown 1-0 Downtown 2-2 and Downtown 3-3 attack the PPF/BSM compound after
it is confirmed the two factions have been aiding each other against our
forces. The compound is captured and all present PPF fighters are killed
in the assault with several high ranking BSM captured. Captain Brandon
Reed of Uptown 1-0 negotiates a deal with BSM to turn their remaining
fighters against the Indonesians rather than Australian forces and after
several bribes the BSM agree to the deal on the condition that their
compound is secured by our forces until all threats have been removed.

09:00 Hrs
Scattered PPF forces carry out 2 pronged assault against our new FOB at
the BSM compound and after several engagements we were able to capture and
positively ID the PPF commander who was then interrogated by Captains Reed
and Almighty. The questioning yielded intel on possible location for the
Accountant and remaining PPF strengths in the region. Downtown 3-3 took a
fighting patrol south west to the suspected location but found nothing. It
was later discovered that the Accountant had been badly wounded during the
night and had been smuggled from the area by members of the BSM.
Downtown 2-2 took a fighting patrol north west to clear the area of any
threat.

09:30 Hrs
PPF commander loaded for extraction pending further questioning. Remaining
PPF forces scatter without leadership but some return to link up with
Colonel Balfour’s Indonesian forces and together they attack BSM ANZAC
forces at the compound Grid ref 061 573.
Fierce fighting break out and continues for 90 mins until Uptown /Downtown
call signs manage to clear area of threat.

11:00 End Ex