Vertical Warfare
We have secured a base on floors 3 through 7 in the 550 storey tower known locally as “McHale’s View”. This comprises two levels of parking garage, three mixed use convention centre/retail. This gives us an almost optimum mix of logistics, barracks, support and control space. Floors 1 and 2 are both parking garage. As they can only be entered trough the vehicle and pedestrian access points on three they are de facto part of the base, although they are unoccupied at this time. Floors 8, 9 and 10 are configured for business use. floors 11 through 40 are light industrial with additional vehicle access points. Floors 41 through 90 are accommodation. At this time there are no permanent occupants on these floors – signs of transient occupancy have been reported during patrols, however. Floors 91 to at least 122 are accommodation infrastructure and retail.
Floors 122 upwards are currently occupied by a Nova Urbo Revolucio training camp, which is considered our primary tactical threat. Neighboring blocks top out at 101 storey’s preventing direct overlook of Floor 122. However, observation from these positions allows us to estimate that the N.U.R. inhabit no more than 15 floors at peak occupancy and typical occupancy is approximately 10 floors. There appears to be no other sign of permanent occupancy below floor 160 which is the limit of reliable observation.
The base is permanently screened by six squad sized observation positions in the surrounding blocks equipped with medium anti-armor and anti-air capabilities. The outer perimeter is extended by two further teams observing the N.U.R. base and the main vehicle approach. Patrols are concentrated within the tower, on floors 8 through 42, extended or external patrols occur infrequently due to manpower shortages.
The main vehicle and pedestrian access points have been lightly fortified at the tower but are not extensively hardened. The long sight lines and permanent observation squads provide sufficient warning in the event of problems. Local populace have proved accepting of our presence and the appearance of lighter security does not alienate them unnecessarily.
As stated the primary threat axis is vertical at this installation and this has been reflected in the emplaced defenses.
There are 8 banks of express elevators which extend above the 100th floor, 2 goods and 6 personnel elevators. The goods elevators were found to be on floor 1 at the time of our occupation and have been locked on floor 3 by parking armored cars between the doors. The personnel elevators were located on each of floors 1, 4, 13, 62, 97 and 120. The elevators above floor 50 were physically secured by one squad each and ridden down to floor 3. Commendations are attached for troopers from squads III and IX who entered the elevator shafts on floor 90 and climbed the intervening distance and entered the car from above to avoid encountering N.U.R. sentry’s. (see attached document #132-2-6a). Personnel elevators are secured by placing a storage crate between the doors. A further 10 banks of personnel elevators and 5 goods elevators extend only to floor 50. These have been left in use to simplify the movement of goods and personnel in the base.
There are 8 stairwells, paired with the express elevator banks. These have been wired with sensors up to floor 20 and emplaced with mines and automated weapons from floor 7 through to floor 12. The entrances to the stair wells have been sealed on floors 1 through 7.
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