Caputian Reconnaissance of Lake Morovia/Unit Operations Diary

Key dates

Date	Event
1661.VII.14	Captain Augustus Strong promoted to Brevet Major & appointed OC of Independent Squadron
1661.VII.15	Independent Squadron Advance Party (ISAP) arrives at ESB Facility Keybir-Aviv. Established strength 13 personnel. Orders received. Orders queried. Clarification received.
1661.VII.16	Recruitment and selection process begun.
1661.VII.21	Independent Squadron formation parade.
1661.VIII.09	"A" Troop proceeds up country to begin observation of indigenous population of Lake Morovia's northern shore.
1661.IX.10–05	9 shallow draft vessels identified by ISAP as associated with illicit activity targeted by Lake Morovia Det. 4RF (x2 Wildcat attack helicopters & x1 Gazelle patrol helicopters carrying anti-tank TOW missiles). Of the vessels targeted, 6 estimated to have been put beyond use as a consequence.

Record of Operations

Date / Time	Place	Summary of Events & Information	Notes & Appendices
1661.XII.12 (2300)	"Lorenhall" (Alperkin encampment 2km northwards from shore of Lake Morovia)	After four weeks, cause for optimism. Prisoner/Hostage exchange a success. Private Halford returned undrained and manifesting no symptoms of infection. Will be kept under observation for 73 hours before medical evacuation to Haifa is authorised. Trade gifts exchanged over tea with local chieftains. Alperkin much taken with the rum and whisky although we could not dissuade them from mixing their drinks with the blood of recently captured Jogi mercenaries. Suggested the release of the mercenaries into our custody but the natives pretended not to understand the question, so I dropped the matter. Conversations with Chief Bazen-Lek-Themis most enlightening on the question of the Harpies and the significance of the carvings encountered on the edge of the marshlands. The latter are purportedly in honour of a demi-god known locally as "Tar". Tar purportedly a chieftain in pre-Atteran times, of divine ancestry naturally, who defied the local 'Ras' (Atteran title of nobility, typically associated with generals and provincial governors) and was banished into the swamps in consequence. Encountered a harpy and dismembered by her accordingly. As the harpy feasted on Tar's flesh, his heart slipped from her gore splattered talons and fell into the brackish waters of Lake Morovia and sank into the abyss where it was discovered by the protective goddess of the waters (no name, referred to euphemistically, possibly a "Dark Alp") who took the heart, "passing it into herself and concealing it in her secret place" (which I'll assume means what I think it means). After a year Tar was reborn from the womb of the nameless goddess and returned to the shore, slaying the Harpy and the Atteran Ras in a long hunt where Noctic-Rabrev leaves were all that sustained him as he ran down his quarry. There was also something about a goat but the interpreter looked embarrassed and pretended not to understand. Have been invited to next year's Cicada Song Festival. Unsure of the significance of this.