Table of Contents
Operation: Flush the Shard
Objective: Prevent Shard #1, “Awareness” from moving closer to San Francisco and instead redirect it closer to Agentina.
Agent Credits
John Asselin (Submarginals) - Next hop and Shard portal capture/defense Dwayne Coleman (Delier) - Shard portal capture/defense Zachery Beach (Vegasmaize) - Shard portal capture/defense Stephen Dahlquist II (ToadSmasher) - Shard portal capture/defense William Olsen (FirstDegree) - Shard portal capture/defense Adam Wilson (EVILoptimist) - Shard portal capture/defense Dara Champion (DChamp) - Shard portal capture/defense James Barker (sunvalleyopi) - Shard portal capture/defense Karston Watkins (00nerspism) - Shard portal capture/defense Chris Xedis (xedis) - Shard portal capture/defense Justin Pulsipher (ArrMiHardies) - Shard portal capture/defense Kimberly Burgess (Kimmie) - Shard portal capture/defense Jennifer Wolff (JennyWeb) - Shard portal capture/defense Matt Esposito (FreakSociety) - Shard portal capture/defense Shane Bement (PrinceRobotIV) - Shard portal capture/defense Miguel Castillo (BlueKnightWing) - Shard portal capture/defense Paul Walters (Deaglan421) - Shard portal capture/defense Dee VeeEss (BigDevious) - Shard portal capture/defense Tru Ives (SonicLust) - Shard portal capture/defense Jason Gilenson (SHADOW702) - Shard portal capture/defense Resistance Leaders from the west who provided Intel Op Support and Planning Numerous supporters from around the world who sent encouraging messages
PreEvent
FirstDegree is actively participating in Shard #1 monitoring with other leaders from the SouthWest. Shard has been moved to Austin, TX; however, it looks like Resistance have it under control and a plan is in place to move it the appropriate direction, closer to Argentina.
Event Timeline
All timing below is approximate pst.
Monday, November 18, 2013
19:00 Agent FirstDegree is enroute from Las Vegas to the St. George, UT for personal reasons when he receives notification that the Enlightened have managed to get control of Shard #1 and have moved it to the St. George Area.
19:15: FirstDegree notifies St. George and Las Vegas Resistance Agents that the Shard is in our area and makes arrangements to meet St. George agents near the Shard as soon as he can arrive.
19:30: FirstDegree stops in Mesquite, NV and puts a blocking link in place between Mesquite, NV and Wendover, NV. Effectively blocking nearly the entire NV/UT border, preventing further movement of the Shard to the West. He continues on his way to Utah.
20:00: The Enlightened move the Shard from Hole in the Wall to Southern Exploring Company in Hurricane, UT.
20:30: Agents Submarginals and ArrMiHardies perform Intel Op functions to determine that with a little local clearing, there’s a clear link path available to link from Hurricane, UT to a portal in Nipton, CA. Putting it firmly in Las Vegas Resistance hands. Submarginals is dispatched to travel to Nipton to receive the Shard with the assumption Agents on site in Utah will be able to move it.
20:50: Agents EVILoptimist, DChamp, sunvalleyopi, and FirstDegree arrive at the portal. FirstDegree attempts to use an ADA Refractor to take the flip option off the table at the top of the hour; however, the flip card fails for unknown reason. The four Resistance Agents instead initiate an attack on the portal with two Enlightened Agents defending. The Resistance is able to take control of the portal at 20:55.
20:58: A Jarvis virus is successfully used by the Enlightened returning the portal to their hands. They establish a link to another portal. The Resistance resumes their attack drop the link at 20:59 and regain control at 21:00 exactly. The battle continues with the Enlightened trying to regain control with the Resistance defending through 21:01 at which point both sides halt further action.
21:10: With the Resistance firmly in control of the portal, one Enlightened agent leaves the portal to place blocking links in Hurricane to prevent Resistance movement.
21:30: EVILOptimist is dispatched to clear the blocking links to allow a Shard movement at 22:00.
21:50: ArrMiHardies is prepared in Las Vegas to drop blue blocking links to allow a Shard movement at 22:00.
22:00: Green blocking links remain in place preventing Resistance movement. Agents from both factions listed above return and both factions actively fight over the Shard portal from 21:55 through 22:00. Resistance continues to hold control of the portal. EVILoptimist again is dispatched to clear remaining blocking links.
22:57: Blocking links having been successfully cleared, FirstDegree successfully links from the Shard portal to the Nipton, CA portal. The two Enlightened Agents attempt to use another Jarvis, which fails. They have to resort to a standard attack. Resistance is able to hold the link in place until 2 seconds before the Shard jump, when the Enlightened successfully knock off the link; however, are unable to take possession of the portal. Battle subsides at 23:01. Submarginals continues to wait in Nipton. sunvalleyopi has to leave and is replaced by 00nerspism.
23:30: With both groups of agents sitting in adjacent vehicles, the Resistance Agents identify they are missing something. 00nerspism walks over to the Enlightened vehicle and knocks on the window to ask, “Do you have any Grey Poupon?”.
23:58 The Enlightened begin their attack. The Resistance defend while FirstDegree having expended his one Nipton key, attempts to link to Mineral Park instead with the expectation Submarginals will then link from Nipton to Mineral Park to further the Shard. The link while showing “Link Established” with the animation in the client fades and fails to move the Shard even though ownership of at least three resonators on the portal was retained through the attack and the key is missing from Inventory. The battle again subsides around 00:02.
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
00:20: EVILoptimist identifies that FirstDegree had given him a Nipton key in the past. They will attempt to link to Nipton at 01:00. One of the Enlightned agents has to leave leaving the portal defended by a single defender.
00:55: FirstDegree again attempts to place the link to Nipton. Link fails with the same symptoms as before, he then attempts to link to Mineral Park and Chloride, both fail.
00:58: The Enlightened begin their attack residing at 01:02. Resistance again retain possession of the portal, but are unable to form links.
01:37: Agents Vegasmaize, xedis, and ToadSmasher plan to leave Las Vegas to travel to Hurricane for the next shift or to help with defense to allow the link to be made.
01:55: EVILoptimist attempts to form the link, but has the same problem.
01:58: Enlightened begin their attack. The Resistance attempt a new defense strategy and are able to hold the portal without losing a single resonator (they suspect the Enlightened are short are high level resources) through the entire attack with it subsiding at 02:02.
02:10: Resistance have Agents DChamp and 00nerspism also attempt to link to various nearby local portals without blocks, but get the same result. Client shows “Link Established”; however, it then immediately fades without the link actually showing up. Resistance Agents approach the Enlightened Agent on site. They notify him, they’ll let him take the portal for the purpose of attempting to link to see if it will work. He takes the portal and attempts to link to a local green portal and also fails. FirstDegree makes a video showing the problem and posts it on G+. All agents leave the scene having determined something is “broken” with the Shard portal. Submarginals leaves Nipton.
03:00: FirstDegree travels to another portal in the area and attempts to link back to the Shard portal. Receives the same problem.
03:10: Vegasmaize, ToadSmasher, and xedis depart Vegas for the Hurricane Portal.
05:27: They arrive at the Shard portal.
05:50: Vegasmaize attempts the Nipton link and gets the same error. ToadSmasher attempts a link and also fails.
05:55:: xedis attempts to link to Wellspring in Boulder City, NV and is successful.
06:00: The Shard moves to the Wellspring portal.
06:20: All Vegas Agents: Vegasmaize, ToadSmasher, xedis, and FirstDegree begin return trip to Las Vegas area as they race for Boulder City.
06:30: Various Vegas Area Agents take on the Intel Operator role to identify all blocking links to get it to Nipton.
07:30: FirstDegree stops in Mesquite again to place a East/West blocking link to Beatty, NV.
08:10: The determination is made to send the Shard to Moapa instead of Nipton as there are currently no blocking links.
08:25: ArrMiHardies arrives on site at Boulder City. Upon arrival he attempts to use a Jarvis on four nearby portals to clear a path to Nipton. Three work; however, the fourth fails for unknown reason. A Jarvis does work on it later in the day.
08:30: Submarginals departs for Moapa.
08:45: Two Enlightened Agents arrive on site at Boulder City.
08:50: Vegasmaize, ToadSmasher, and xedis arrive on site at Boulder City.
08:55: FirstDegree arrives on site at Boulder City.
08:58: Enlightened begin their attack, the Resistance while outnumbering them 5 to 2 are unable to maintain the link due to server lag. The attack halts at 09:01.
09:30: BlueKnightWing arrives on site at Boulder City.
09:45: An additional Enlightened Agent arrives to help.
09:58: Enlightened Agents begin their attack with a similar result that the Resistance are unable to maintain the link. The battle terminates at 10:02.
09:30: ToadSmasher needs to depart, but takes keys to distribute to additional Vegas agents to help with recharging..
09:40: Additional Enlightened Agents continue to arrive.
9:55: The Resistance attempt the link with multiple agents failing. Link is established; however, Enlightened are able to knock it down beginning their attack at 9:57 and having the link down by 10:00.
10:58: The Resistance establish the link; however, are unable to maintain it through the Enlightened attack which subsides at 11:01.
11:10: FirstDegree departs the scene to work and for a planned vacation in the evening, but also takes keys for distribution for recharging assistance. PrinceRobotIV arrives.
11:30: A decision is made to allow the Enlightened to capture the portal with the intent the Resistance will ADA the portal just prior to noon and throw the desired link.
11:59: Portal is flipped; however, link fails to establish as it was the night before. Battle ends at 12:02.
12:58: Battle resumes and ends with the same result. New agents arriving on scene can sometimes create a link; however, existing agents continually get the linking problem. Battle ends at 13:01. A count in the COMM log of the number of resonators deployed during the 3 minute battle is 175. Fortunately, the Resistance is well stocked having maintained L8 farms for the previous months.
13:58: Pattern continues to repeat itself. Vegasmaize needs to depart as does xedis. Delier arrives.
14:30: BlueKnightWing leaves to recharge from the strip in an xm rich environment.
14:58: Link established; however, with server lag it is impossible to hold through the attacks. Resistance decides that following this attempt, instead of attempting to link, they’ll take a retention approach instead and create blocking links to contain the shard and prevent Enlightened movement. It is clear it is going to be a battle of attrition. Heated battle ends at 15:02.
15:10: Submarginals throws blocking links from Moapa to the West and Southeast and departs the location.
15:56: Resistance continue to maintain ownership of the portal, but no longer worry about trying to link. Battle ends at 16:01.
16:20: SonicLust arrives on site.
16:55: Resistance continue their hold strategy and maintain ownership of the portal through the 17:00 battle.
17:10: All Resistance agents not on-site embark on creating blocking links to contain the Shard, but still allow linking to Nipton. ArrMiHardies needs to leave. Only two resistance agents remain on-site to battle the now nine Enlightened agents.
17:58: Resistance agents concede ownership of the portal; however, successfully prevent the Enlightened from being able to move the Shard. Battle ends at 18:02.
18:15: Additional Enlightened arrive on site.
18:58: Resistance agents prevent the Enlightened from successfully linking at the top of the hour.
19:10: Kimmie and JennyWeb arrive on site.
19:58: FreakSociety arrives on-site and assists Resistance agents in preventing an Enlightened move. It was very close, but the Resistance agents take down the link.
20:10: SHADOW702 is on site.
20:47: ArrMiHardies links Sloan to Laughlin preventing links to the Southwest.
20:58: The Enlightened attempt to move the Shard, but are again thwarted by the Resistance on-site.
21:15: FirstDegree links Beatty to Tank to seal off Western movement. All avenues of escape are now blocked from distant portals.
21:30:Deaglan421 arrives on site.
21:57: Battle continues with Resistance preventing Enlightened from moving the Shard.
22:30: FreakSociety departs from the site. Resistance have been tracking Enlightened activity due south of Boulder City in the Bullhead City, AZ area. They establish a link from Bullhead City to Essex allowing access to the IE in California.
22:50: The Resistance in a bold move attack early and successfully capture the portal even though they are out-numbered on site.
22:57: The Resistance successfully hold the Shard portal through the 23:00 battle, but continue to be unable to create links.
23:15: Kimmie and JennyWeb leave and establish nearby blocking links to prevent movement before returning to the Shard portal defense.
23:50: The Enlightened greatly outnumbering the Resistance successfully take control of the portal. The Resistance capture a nearby portal and create numerous blocking links, preventing any movement even without having to take down links from the Shard portal during the 00:00 battle. A local Enlightened offer the four Resistance agents on site $50 each to leave. Offer is made multiple times and is always rejected.
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
00:20: The Enlightened numbers are starting to dwindle and the remaining members are running low on gear and seem to be disheartened.
00:57: The two remaining Enlightened visit rather than actively fighting during the 01:00 battle timing. It becomes clear that if the Resistance can clear the blocking links they’ve established they may have an opportunity to move the Shard tonight.
01:57: Resistance maintains ownership of the portal and continue to hold successfully. Linking remains problematic.
02:10 Kimmie and JennyWeb need to leave, but establish additional blocking links to the South and East. Delier and Deaglan421 remain to continue the battle through the remainder of the night.
03:00: No change in the battle pattern.
04:00: No change in the battle pattern.
05:00: No change in the battle pattern.
06:00: No change in the battle pattern.
07:00: No change in the battle pattern.
08:00: No change in the battle pattern.
08:34: BigDevious is returning to Las Vegas from Southern California. Takes down the green Essex to Bullhead link and creates a blue blocking link from Essex to Baker. Delier slips away and utilizes Jarvis virii to take down three blue blocking links before returning at the top of the hour.
08:55: Submarginals arrives at Boulder City for the 09:00 defense and link attempt.
08:58: Delier is able to successfully link to Nipton; however, the one Enlightened agent is able to successfully bring down the link prior to jump. Vegasmaize is at Indian Springs and creates a link from there to Nipton.
09:40: The Resistance decide to try linking earlier to allow for more attempts. Submarginals fails in his attempt to make the link to Nipton; however, Delier is successful seconds later. There is only one Enlightened agent on-site to oppose and he is not a Level 8 agent and is running short on supplies.
09:59: Vegasmaize arrives at Boulder City, upgrades the portal and assists in the defense. The team is able to hold the link.
10:00: The Shard successfully moves to Nipton. The Battle of the Shard in Boulder City, NV is over 28 hours after the Shard arrived, much of that time with intense battles at the top of every hour. Vegasmaize brought donuts for everyone to the successful jump. The Enlightened agent reluctantly eats one.
10:06: Submarginals is dispatched to Nipton to defend the Shard should any Enlightened go after it. Vegasmaize is dispatched to Indian Springs, NV.
11:00: Shard successfully leaves Nipton for Indian Springs, NV.
11:02: Submarginals arrives at Nipton and is able to Jarvis the link. He 'remains on site at Nipton until 13:00 in case Nipton is needed again.
11:10: Vegasmaize arrives at Indian Springs, NV. He is alone without opposition. Keys are being located and moved to allow sending the Shard through Mexico; however, they won’t be available for a number of hours.
11:50: Vegasmaize successfully establishes a link to the Mercury PO portal. Following the link creation, he receives a random comment on COMM, “What are you doing?” He replies, “Drinking milk.”
12:00: Shard successfully leaves Indian Springs for Mercury.
12:30: Plans are established to bounce the Shard out of Mercury in a few hours to a portal in the desert before allowing it to return while the necessary keys are transferred.
14:00: Controversy erupts over the Shard being in a restricted area.
18:00: Linking is broken again and is not allowing Vegasmaize who has access to the Shard portal to create links either in or out. Keys are still enroute, but won’t be present in time.
20:00: Word is passed that the Shard needs to be relocated or Nia-Ops will do it. Linking remains broken disallowing the ability for the Shard to be moved. Additional agents attempt to link in; however, are unable to successfully complete a link.
21:00: New plans are created to migrate the Shard in shorter hops to the South. Valley Resistance Militia in Arizona agree to accept the Shard if Las Vegas Resistance can move it to Lake Havasu City, AZ.
23:00: The Shard is moved by Nia-Ops back to Nipton, CA. New location is identified by Las Vegas Resistance.
23:07: BigDevious having just arrived back in Las Vegas from business travel volunteers to travel to Nipton to further the Shard to Lake Havasu City. ToadSmasher volunteers to go with.
Thursday, November 21, 2013
00:30: BigDevious and ToadSmasher arrive at Nipton. They are alone without opposition. BigDevious is unable to successfully link with the on-going Link Established, but then it fades; however, ToadSmasher is able to successfully link to Lake Havasu on this occasion.
01:00: The Shard successfully jumps to Lake Havasu City, AZ and into the capable hands of the Valley Resistance Militia.
Outcome
Las Vegas Resistance along with St. George Resistance successfully intercepted Shard #1 taking it from the Enlightened hands and routed it significantly further away from San Francisco. In the process, the Las Vegas Resistance demonstrated our local dominance and showed the world and the Enlightened that we will not allow any Shards to traverse our territory to get closer to San Francisco. While it was a very frustrating experience due to problems with linking, the Las Vegas Resistance will not give up. All involved in the battle are HEROES in our on-going struggle against alien influence. We will always RESIST!!!
All told, we had the Shard in our area under active control for 52 hours. With this newly obtained experience, we are ready to again dominate the Shard should another one come into our range. Jarvis will not be resurrected on our watch.