7TH LEGION OPERATIONS ORDER
Operation Night Lantern
- DATE / TIME
- 8/26/2026
- AREA OF OPERATIONS
- Zahran Valley · OBJ ALPHA and OBJ BRAVO
- COMMANDER
- Noctis Actual
SITUATION
TASK ORGANIZATION: Noctis, two squads SUPPORTING REFERENCE: Attached operational map A. AREA OF OPERATIONS Zahran Valley is under insurgent control and contested by local militia forces. The Pech River and adjacent highway form the principal east–west corridor through the valley. Secondary roads, river crossings, settlements, and restrictive mountain terrain create predictable movement routes and likely enemy checkpoints. OBJ ALPHA is located in the northwestern high ground near Ravendak. It is an insurgent camp containing vehicles required for continued movement. OBJ BRAVO is located in the southwestern portion of the valley near Bangir. Reporting indicates that four American prisoners are being held there: - Three U.S. pilots - One U.S. Marine The Pech Valley settlements and river corridor between the objectives remain hostile or contested. B. ENEMY FORCES Insurgent forces control key roads and settlements throughout the valley. Expected capabilities include: - Dismounted patrols - Roadblocks and checkpoints - Light vehicles and technicals - Small arms and crew-served weapons - Observation posts on elevated terrain - Reinforcements moving along the Pech River corridor - Relocation or execution of prisoners if alerted Insurgent strength at both objectives is unknown. C. FRIENDLY FORCES Noctis consists of two squads: - Noctis 1: Assault and forward-security element - Noctis 2: Support, isolation, vehicle-security, and recovery element - Noctis Actual: Mission command Local militia forces are fighting insurgents for control of the valley. Their disposition, appearance, and intentions are uncertain. Militia personnel are not considered friendly unless positively identified. D. ATTACHMENTS AND DETACHMENTS None.
MISSION
Noctis infiltrates OBJ ALPHA, raids the insurgent camp, and secures serviceable enemy vehicles. Noctis then conducts mounted movement through Zahran Valley to OBJ BRAVO, raids the holding site, recovers three U.S. pilots and one U.S. Marine, and extracts all personnel by ground.
EXECUTION
A. COMMANDER’S INTENT Purpose: Recover all four American prisoners from insurgent custody. Key Tasks: - Reach OBJ ALPHA without alerting OBJ BRAVO. - Isolate and raid the insurgent camp. - Secure enough vehicles and fuel to transport both squads and four prisoners. - Prevent enemy forces from warning or reinforcing OBJ BRAVO. - Move through the valley while preserving combat power. - Locate, identify, and recover all four prisoners. - Extract by ground without relying on aviation support. End State: All four prisoners and Noctis personnel have departed the valley, enemy pursuit has been broken, and the force has reached friendly-controlled territory. B. CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS The operation will be conducted in five phases. PHASE I — INFILTRATION TO OBJ ALPHA Noctis conducts concealed infiltration toward OBJ ALPHA near Ravendak. Noctis 1 leads movement and establishes forward security. Noctis 2 protects the rear and flanks. The force will avoid unnecessary contact and bypass enemy observation positions when possible. Phase I ends when both squads occupy their assault and isolation positions around OBJ ALPHA. PHASE II — RAID OBJ ALPHA Noctis 2 isolates the camp, blocks likely reinforcement routes, and secures the vehicle area. Noctis 1 conducts the principal raid and clears designated camp positions. Priorities at OBJ ALPHA are: 1. Prevent enemy warning transmissions. 2. Secure the camp. 3. Capture serviceable vehicles. 4. Secure fuel required to reach OBJ BRAVO and complete extraction. 5. Recover maps, radios, documents, or information concerning OBJ BRAVO. 6. Depart before enemy reinforcements can arrive. Captured vehicles will be checked for: - Basic serviceability - Fuel level - Explosives or traps - Tracking devices - Communications equipment - Passenger and cargo capacity Phase II ends when Noctis departs OBJ ALPHA with sufficient transportation. PHASE III — MOVEMENT THROUGH ZAHRAN VALLEY Noctis descends from OBJ ALPHA and enters the Pech River corridor. The force then moves toward the western branch of the valley before turning south along the river and road network toward OBJ BRAVO. The primary route follows established roads along the western Pech River corridor. The alternate route uses secondary roads and terrain west of the populated river settlements. Mounted order of movement: 1. Noctis 1 lead vehicle 2. Noctis Actual 3. Noctis 2 4. Recovery vehicle 5. Rear-security vehicle, if available Noctis will bypass populated areas and checkpoints when possible. The force will not assume that armed personnel or checkpoints belong to friendly militia. If enemy resistance prevents continued mounted movement, Noctis will disengage and transition to the alternate route. Phase III ends when Noctis establishes isolation around OBJ BRAVO. PHASE IV — RAID OBJ BRAVO Noctis 2 establishes an outer cordon around OBJ BRAVO, blocks reinforcement routes, and secures the extraction vehicles. Noctis 1 conducts the principal raid and searches all suspected holding areas. Priorities at OBJ BRAVO are: 1. Prevent the prisoners from being moved. 2. Locate and secure the three pilots. 3. Locate and secure the Marine. 4. Confirm the identity and total number of recovered personnel. 5. Search secondary holding areas if any prisoner remains missing. 6. Move the recovered personnel to the extraction vehicles. Prisoner accountability: - Package Eagle: Three U.S. pilots - Package Devil: One U.S. Marine - Full House: All four prisoners confirmed Noctis will not initiate final extraction until all four prisoners are accounted for or Noctis Actual determines that continued searching would jeopardize the entire force. Phase IV ends when the prisoners are secured and loaded for extraction. PHASE V — GROUND EXTRACTION Noctis extracts north or south using the route offering the greatest freedom of movement at the time of departure. Noctis 1 provides forward security. Noctis 2 provides rear security and protects the recovered personnel. If the primary extraction route is blocked, Noctis will shift to secondary roads west of the river corridor. The force will avoid becoming decisively engaged inside populated areas. If pursued, Noctis will prioritize breaking contact and continuing extraction rather than holding terrain. The mission ends when all Noctis personnel and four recovered prisoners reach friendly-controlled territory. C. TASKS TO SUBORDINATE ELEMENTS NOCTIS 1 - Lead infiltration to OBJ ALPHA. - Conduct the principal raid at OBJ ALPHA. - Lead mounted movement through the valley. - Conduct the principal raid at OBJ BRAVO. - Search designated prisoner-holding locations. - Provide forward security during extraction. NOCTIS 2 - Provide flank and rear security during infiltration. - Isolate OBJ ALPHA. - Secure and organize captured vehicles. - Block reinforcement routes at OBJ BRAVO. - Secure the vehicle and prisoner-transfer area. - Escort the recovered prisoners. - Provide rear security during extraction. NOCTIS ACTUAL - Control phase transitions. - Approve changes to movement and extraction routes. - Maintain accountability of personnel, prisoners, and vehicles. - Decide whether to continue searching if a prisoner is missing. - Coordinate or deconflict with positively identified local militia. D. COORDINATING INSTRUCTIONS - Recovery of the four prisoners is the mission priority. - Preserve surprise at OBJ BRAVO. - Avoid unnecessary contact during movement. - Positive identification is required before engagement. - Armed personnel who surrender will be disarmed and secured. - Civilians will not be treated as hostile based solely on location. - Report every phase transition. - Report any loss of transportation immediately. - Report confirmation of each prisoner package. - Noctis Actual controls departure from OBJ BRAVO. E. CRITICAL INFORMATION REQUIREMENTS Immediately report: - Evidence that the prisoners have been moved - An immediate threat to prisoner lives - Loss of surprise - Enemy reinforcements approaching either objective - Failure to secure serviceable vehicles - Blockage of the primary route - Identification of an alternate holding location - Any missing Noctis member or recovered prisoner - Contact with organized local militia forces F. CONTINGENCIES OBJ ALPHA alerted: Accelerate the raid or bypass the camp if maintaining surprise at OBJ BRAVO takes priority. No usable vehicles: Continue with available transportation or transition to the dismounted route. Vehicle disabled: Transfer personnel and essential equipment to remaining vehicles and continue. Primary valley route blocked: Use secondary roads west of the Pech River corridor. OBJ BRAVO alerted: Immediately isolate the objective and block all vehicle departure routes. Prisoners relocated: Exploit available information and move to the most credible alternate location on order. Prisoners separated: Secure located personnel while the second squad searches the remaining holding area. Heavy reinforcement: Break contact and continue toward the designated extraction route. Local militia contact: Maintain security, avoid escalation, and coordinate only after positive identification.
SUSTAINMENT
A. SUPPLY Each squad will carry sufficient ammunition, water, batteries, and equipment to complete the operation without resupply. Before departing OBJ ALPHA: - Confirm vehicle serviceability. - Confirm sufficient fuel. - Cross-load ammunition and water. - Reserve seating for four recovered prisoners. - Assign drivers and vehicle commanders. - Establish vehicle order of movement. - Secure captured maps, radios, and documents. B. TRANSPORTATION Captured vehicles are essential to continued movement and extraction. At least one vehicle will be designated as the prisoner-recovery vehicle. Personnel and supplies will be redistributed if the number of usable vehicles is limited. Vehicles that cannot be recovered will be abandoned after essential personnel, equipment, and information have been transferred. C. ACCOUNTABILITY Squad leaders will report accountability at every phase transition. Noctis Actual will maintain a consolidated count of: - Noctis personnel - Three recovered pilots - One recovered Marine - Operational vehicles - Disabled or abandoned vehicles
COMMAND & SIGNAL
A. COMMAND Succession of command: 1. Noctis Actual 2. Noctis 1 Leader 3. Noctis 2 Leader 4. Senior remaining team leader B. SIGNAL Primary and alternate communications will be assigned before infiltration. Brevity codes: - LANTERN: OBJ ALPHA isolated - HORSE: Serviceable vehicles secured - DARK ROAD: Mounted valley movement initiated - CAGE: OBJ BRAVO isolated - EAGLE: Three pilots secured - DEVIL: Marine secured - FULL HOUSE: All four prisoners confirmed - DAWN: Extraction initiated - HOME: Friendly-controlled territory reached - BLACKOUT: Communications compromised - BROKEN WHEEL: Transportation capability lost If communications fail, subordinate elements will continue according to the commander’s intent, phase timeline, and last confirmed instructions. ACKNOWLEDGE Subordinate leaders will brief back: - Assigned tasks - Routes and phase-transition criteria - Vehicle-seizure responsibilities - Prisoner accountability procedures - Communications-loss procedures - Primary and alternate extraction routes