The Fortress/News Archive 4
This is an archive of old news concerning Team Dark Watch of the Fortress.
Operation Hidden Gem: Dark Watch Goes to Crooketon!
Written by Morrigana, February 27, 2009
It was early in the new year when the team set out for the ghost town of Crooketon. Reports had indicated that the place was spooky. Most buildings were ruined, their shutters and doors just hanging by a few loose screws. Broken glass littered the pavement, and if you looked closely, you might see a pair of terrified eyes peering out from behind a shotgun barrel. A few zombies, obviously malnourished and lethargic, stumbled along the cobblestone paths of Crooketon’s downtown district.
But they posed little threat. The expectation was to restore this forgotten little burb's infrastructure with minimal resistance and get out. But as Dark Watch entered the ghost town from the South and zeds came pouring in from the East, that expectation changed entirely.
Having heard tales of a man named Doc Groucho who leads a small group of local survivors, known as Feral Survivors, Commander Tardew made contact via an old radio found in our safehouse and spoke to him about the increasing danger and local traditions. As she spoke with him, it became apparent that this old timer didn't trust the more modern methods of communication that many survivors use today and preferred contact by radio or by mobile phone. Realizing the importance of maintaining communication with this Crooketon veteran, Commander Tardew assigned Oryx Clarke as Dark Watch’s Communications Officer, and he secured the necessary equipment to keep in close touch with the Doc who made his home in the northern part of the suburb.
Soon after arriving it became clear that the substantial influx of zeds from the east would require additional manpower to address. Orders to clear and maintain revive points were made and Dark Watch medic Michael Markus and ziptrickhead took the matter well in hand, while Commander Tardew began making calls to allied leaders. Within days, coordination between 3 DEM squads; The Randoms, Breech of Peace, and Order of the Black Rose was established and Crooketon was reclaimed in a week despite huge AP repair costs. Our resident coma specialist, Bob Boberton was always on hand for the difficult repairs, providing we had a tankard of Malt Whiskey waiting for him when he awoke from his slumber.
Late one night, as Crooketon was turned from a lifeless, ruined hole to a place that looked almost livable, the leaders sat together and our own Commander Tardew came up with the plan of all plans. It was the perfect way to end this now successful operation. Standing on a keg of beer, Anne quietened the room and said, “In two days time, we will take back Merson NT from the zombies and we will hold it for 48 hours in what will be known as the NO GUTS, NO GLORY PARTY! Are you with me?”
Excited shouts filled the air, and the news spread like wildfire. Soon additional survivor groups including 404: Barhah Not Found joined in the festivities. The buildings around the Necro Tech facility were systematically cleared, caded and lit in multiple coordinated strikes and while the zombies divided their numbers and rushed to attack the newly shiny buildings, the survivors moved into Merson NT and evicted the few zombies that had taken up residency. Streamers and left over Christmas lights were placed all over the building. Wine crates, and kegs of beer were opened, and the survivors danced, sang, drank, and of course, kept those pesky zombies at bay. It was late, and looking around the room most of the survivors were passed out in heaps, exhausted from the days and nights of partying. Anne, Codeist and Morrigana were sitting around a table talking about the day’s feats when there was a scratching at the door. Jumping to their feet, they rushed to the barricade just as a huge crash sent boards and bits of chairs flying in all directions. Zombies poured in as Anne, Codeist and Morrigana raised their pistols and aimed for their heads. A grim looked passed over their faces, as they started to get tired… but then, out of nowhere, like Malton’s own Superman, Sgt Lenimen burst in through the hole in the wall, spraying bullets into the trespassing zombies. Throwing their bodies from the building, he raised the barricades and made the building safe for all again! Arriving just in the nick of time, early from his shore leave, he single handedly saved the day, saved the party, and ensured it would continue well into the evening!
The next day, hungover , but happy, we parted ways from our friends and allies. We knew we would meet again, another day, in another burb, doing the work we love – protecting Malton from the zombie scourge.
Operation C3 Salvation: The Epic Siege at Caiger Mall
Written by Morrigana, November 4, 2008
On September 8th, 2008, Dark Watch Commander FireWarlord gave the orders to move out to Caiger Mall in what would prove to be a long, bloody and successful siege. The mall had been in zombie hands for just about a year when the DHPD heroically reclaimed it and called on Dark Watch for backup. Our troops quickly moved into the area to find a ruined suburb with barely a survivor in sight. The DHPD were defending the mall against a horde of zombies who desperately wanted to take back Caiger. The zombies were everywhere, and in every corner there were bloody corpses. Dark Watch arrived in full force and quickly restored the balance of power between previously overwhelmed survivors and the predominantly feral zombie horde. Dark Watch secured all the local resource buildings and the mall then another call came from DHPD. They needed Dark Watch's assistance in securing their home suburb of Dunnel Hills. We were happy to help. We moved into Dunnel Hills and reclaimed the NE quadrant of that 'burb in less than a week, often falling into comas after repairing buildings that took 100AP or more to fix! With the suburb now glowing in the night, word spread throughout Malton of the improved conditions and survivors started to flock back to the home they once called Caiger Mall.
Upon returning to Caiger Mall, we were met with incessant break-ins. Day after day, night after night, hour after hour, the zombies pounded on the door of the mall, but we were always there to thwart them. Every time, Dark Watch, allies and local survivors quickly dispatched the threat, killing the intruding zombies by the dozens, cading the mall up and healing and reviving the survivors who were nom’d during the course of zombie invasion. You could almost see the frustration on the decaying faces of our undead enemies, and before we knew it, a barhah harmanz rang through the night and reinforcements came to the side of evil.
Regardless, Dark Watch did not break. With the diplomatic help of Brian Flynn, Michael Markus, Commander Warlord, and our ever shining Lieutenant, Anne Tardew, survivor reinforcements began pouring in. Allies including USAI, ACC, battle hardened Fortress Combat Squads, Cold Cell and Battlehawks arrived as well as some of the promising new talent from Boot Camp joined forces in Caiger Mall and the surrounding buildings. With a force this strong, we could not be defeated!
With the extra support in the Mall, much of Dark Watch moved in to defend the oft-ruined Latrobe NT, and to maintain the revive point at Salopia Row. The zeds came a knockin’ but we stopped them cold in their tracks every time and the breaches decreased dramatically. By this time, the troops were feeling the combat fatigue brought on by nearly 6 weeks of siege but LT Tardew knew the remedy for that. Quickly a hot tub was installed in the NT building and Morrigana brought some deliciously scented bath bombs to sparkle up the waters and make everyone smell delightful! Music started playing and games were secured and before you knew it a rousing game of strip twister commenced. It went something like this: [ *censored! There are kids around, sheesh!*]... the lovely girls in the NT got to show off their spiffy new bathing suits and one handsome gent lost his cowboy hat! The tunes were pumping and the booze was flowing which seemed to attract even more undead party goers, which meant the strikes against the NT increased with such vigor and force you might have believed that the zeds were jealous that they weren't invited to the big bash! Alas, Dark Watch and others (including some from USAI, ACC, TF's Battle Hawk and boot camp) explained in no uncertain terms that this party was INVITATION ONLY.
With more than 100 zombies attacking the mall with X:00 coordination tactics and up to two dozen outside the local NT using the same strategy, the battle was rough and bloody. Many lives were sacrificed, but thanks to our superior Fortress medics, no one had to wait long to take a deep breath of fresh air again. Local buildings were regularly ruined, but the survivors would not be bested. Within hours, buildings were restored and powered and the zombies were left outside to bash their heads against the doors in frustration, making vain attempts to get a taste of fresh brainz.
By this time morale was high across the suburbs of Chudleyton and Darvall Heights. While the break-ins were still frequent, they were less forceful than previously seen. With All Hallows Eve just around the bend, Dark Watch announced that they would be moving out of the Caiger area to celebrate our success and Halloween with our Fortress and allied friends. Eight weeks and 3 days after Dark Watch arrived, and having consistently kept the mall in survivor hands, our diplomats called on additional allies to replace them before pulling out. We sent our best wishes to the survivors remaining in the area and (not-so) quietly slipped into the night to take care of more business on the Dark side.
Operation Skull Crusher Kills the Competition!
Written by Mindlessidiots, July 9th, 2009
Forget the assassins of the movie “Wanted", there’s a new group of killers and they don’t need super powers to get the job done! On June 13 2009, 02:08 AM, Commander Anne Tardew, still flushed with Dark Watch's decisive victory at Ackland Mall (though some say she was flushed with Jack Daniels), declared open season on the RRF with Operation: Skull Crusher. This operation was unique due to its very specific objective: kill as many RRF personnel as possible, with special competitions focusing on assassinating the most RRF VIP’s and the most creative kill. Notable in this operation was the absence of our usual focus on holding real estate (the suburb was relatively in tact) and the solitary and independent nature of an assassin's goal. This tactic stripped the RRF of the ability to locate and hit us as a group, thereby limiting their ability to defend against Dark Watch's focused and lethal assassins. Soon after the operation began, The Fortress received word came that the RRF had a new leader in career player killer, Johnny Bass. Commander Tardew immediately showed her respect by assassinating him.
True to form, Dark Watch achieved their mission objective with ruthless efficiency and it was not long before a representative of the RRF approached the Brig issuing a notice that TOO MANY RRF VIP's were being killed! Commander Tardew, ever the gracious diplomat (and compassionate to the plight of an enemy simply unable to match the lethal onslaught of her squad's attentions) ordered a cease fire and quickly dispatched a message to the new RRF's new leader, Johnny Bass which soothed escalating tensions on June 18.
Regrettably, the abrupt termination of the operation led to setting aside the award competition for most creative kill but Ruinator accrued the most kills. Judging from the amount of kills Ruinator got, it would be safe to assume that he is the descendant of Altair of Assassins Creed, and should watch out for Templar’s trying to kidnap him. Below is the kill tally for each participant.
Ruinator: Seven kills
Zeke Nafien: Four kills
Anne Tardew: Three kills
PrepH: Three kills
Bob Boberton: Two kills
Ziptrickhead: Two kills
Morrigana: One kill
The rest of the squad: Zero Kills
Operation Reunion comes to a Successful End
Written by Mindlessidiots, June 12th, 2009
Havercroft was once a place where the RRF could shamble freely and threaten the good citizens that lived there, but thanks to the efforts of Team Dark Watch and Anaconda, that is no longer true! On June 2 2009, Anne Tardew started operation Reunion in order to assist the defenders of the Ackland mall against RRF attacks. The operations was put into 3 parts, part 1 was to find a safe house and to help rebuild important resource buildings that would be critical to the defenses of Ackland. Part 2 was the actual defenses of the mall and elimination of the besieging zombie force. Part 3 was to have the biggest party Ackland has ever seen!
Part 1 started with Dark Watch members making their way to the safe house and scouting out the mall. Unfortunately, the original safe house was soon overrun by zombies and Dark Watch was forced to claim a new one. Ackland mall also had a break in its NW which the defenders were desperately trying to force out. The battle was going to be difficult for Dark Watch, but with the famous Anacondas arriving to join the mission tp save Ackland, and the DEM sending a team of healers to help. With this infusion of personnel from Anaconda and no longer having to dedicate time to healing, Real Time raids were soon started to retake key buildings surrounding the mall. Soon, every building between our safe house and the mall was repaired and ready for free running. Part 2 of the operation was ready to begin. Moving to a new safe house that is close to the mall, we began to prepare.
On June 7th 2009, Anne gave the orders for us to move into the mall. The move was easy thanks to PrepH who in a heroic feat of daring and skill, killed the last remaining zombie inside and repaired the two ruined corners of the mall. Once situated, Dark Watch and Anaconda soon brought their attention to maintaining the barricades where the besieging zombies had focused their attention. The Mall soon became a game of “Who has the most AP” with the survivors inside trying to keep the cades up, and the zombies trying to take the cades down. In the beginning there were close calls with barricades coming down and brave survivors being killed, but thanks to the vigilance of Dark Watch and Anaconda, no major breaking inns’ happened.
To keep up morale, Anne created the first annual “The Fortress/DEM allied survivors Pimps and ‘Hos Bash!”. Soon the moans of the zombies were blocked out by the Techno music, and there hideous appearance forgotten with the memories of Anne and Morrigana’s hilarious pimp costumes, and thanks to Dark Watch ingenuity, we were able to do steps 2 and 3 at the same time! The siege continued, and it seemed like we were in for the long haul until the RRF showed there true colors on June 9 and ran off like the cowards they were, apparently unable to take the fierce opposition of Dark Watch and Anaconda, even though some claim that they ran due to Anne releasing her secret weapon, her dreaded Marconi salad.
With the RRF gone, the siege soon became a cake walk. The mall was no longer in danger, and we soon used it as a base of operations for the next planned campaign. On June 11 the operation officially ended, and operation Reunion joined the list of many successful campaigns done by Dark Watch and Anaconda.
