OPERATION ARGON SHIELD
Operation Argon Shield was a classified combat search and rescue [CSAR] operation sanctioned by the TITAN INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION, undertaken by the TITAN SPECIAL OPERATION FORCES [TSOF] branch and executed by Seraphim Squad on January 5th, 2024. This mission took place near the boundary between Far North and Interior Alaska and was meant to recover operatives from Task Force ###-### [informally known as [REDACTED] Squad]following their evacuation vehicle [a Sikorsky UH-60 Blackhawk Helicopter] being shot down by the Hands of the Eternal Flame (HEF). This incident occurred shortly after Operation Copper Avalanche, after the objective of the aforementioned mission had been completed and exfiltration was actively occurring, for specifics on this operation, please refer to the individual operation report [LEVEL 4 CLEARANCE REQUIRED].
Operation Argon Shield happened one day following the loss of Task Force ###-### after TITAN’s Records, Analytics, and Intelligence [RAI] department located the wreckage at 0021 hours. After this signal was tracked, a team of 3 helicopters and 3 CSAR-focused TSOF squadrons were quickly briefed at TITAN’s Anchorage Division and deployed to the wreck of the helicopter at 0159.
The other two teams began their search in the southwest and east directions from the wreckage while Seraphim Squad evaluated the wreck. SERAPH made a note in her report that the pilot’s corpse was not present at the wreck. After this once-over was complete, Seraphim Squad began to search in a northwestern direction from the wreckage.
At 0344 hours, PLUME located a trail of abandoned gear accompanied by old blood. After calling in this trail, Seraphim was given the go-ahead to continue forward and after 30 minutes of walking the found of the body of Task Force ###-###’s breacher [REDACTED]. Upon locating this, HALO informed Seraphim Squad’s coordinator, GUARDIAN of the body. GUARDIAN responded with, “Leave the body for now. We need to focus on those who might be alive right now”. Following this transmission, Seraphim Squad continued onward until they located a cave-like structure that was seemingly man-made.
After reporting this, Seraphim Squad was given the go-ahead to enter where they located the remaining three field members of the team. This discovery was not peaceful as the remaining members fired upon Seraphim Squad before realizing they were an allied squad.
Thankfully, due to rapid deescalation of the situation by Seraphim members, the worst injury sustained in this altercation was WINGS being grazed on the cheek by a bullet. This injury was quickly treated by HALO following basic first aid being administered to the remaining Task Force ###-### members. Around this time, the other two CSAR teams joined Seraphim at the recovery site and after basic treatment had been administered, Task Force ###-### was escorted to the evacuation site by the other two teams present while Seraphim went to retrieve the body of [REDACTED].
During this retrieval process, Seraphim Squad encountered a team of 5 HEF members and fired upon them, killing 4 and severely injuring 1. Due to their extremely quick reaction time, no Seraphim Squad members were injured during this altercation and the severely injured HEF member was detained and brought to the evacuation zone alongside the body of [REDACTED].
Following the personnel being returned to base, all three members of Task Force ###-### were able to return to active duty following 4-13 months of recovery. That combined with the lack of allied casualties has led to this mission being widely considered a success.