Operation Another One Bites The Saw Dust After Action Report

The day comes for another exciting airsofting event, everyone begins to arrive all geared up and ready for some exciting fun filled serious cqb. In this 10,000 square foot building with 6 inches of sawdust on the floor and paint of many colors every where from many paintball events being held here the game is on.

Another One Bites the Sawdust After-Action Report

Colonial Marines Mission Assignment:
The Recovery of the ITV Sawdust City, 14 January, 2257, Earth Standard Reckoning.

Mission Background: The year is 2257. The Arcturus Corporation Interstellar Transport Vessel Sawdust City has been discovered drifting over twelve parsecs off the trade lane in deep space. Up until now, the ‘Dust was assumed lost with all hands, since she failed to arrive on Alpha Centauri Prime after a resupply mission to the Arcturus Mining Colony over three years ago. A Colonial Marines ship, the USS Ballentine, has been dispatched from ACPrime to inspect and secure the derelict vessel in preparation for its salvage or recovery. Since damage scans indicate that the loss of the vessel was not due to pirate attack or mechanical mishap, the unit has been told to prepare for possible xenomorph contact.

Cmdr. Log, USS Ballentine: 1100 hrs
Contact Reported by Wolf Recon Squad Alpha at 1030 hrs, Cargo Bay Airlock – Deck I. Encountering heavy resistance from unidentified xenomorphs in low-light conditions, humanoid-form xenos with projectile-throwing capabilities, probable small arms capable. Vertical surfaces of Sawdust City interior covered in slimy multicolored secretions, footing unsure, floors covered in chitinous flakes. Required two flash bomb barrages and the loss of three squads to gain the first stairwell to below decks. Request permission to recall forward units and issue Power Armor to advance squads.

ACPrime Mission Command: 1107 hrs - PERMISSION DENIED. CASUALTIES ACCEPTIBLE. SECURE VESSEL AND OBTAIN XENOMORPH SPECIMENS. PROCEED AS INSTRUCTED.

Cmdr. Log, USS Ballentine: 1200 hrs
Surviving elements of Wolf Recon Alpha hold Deck II central stairwell, with Marine Beta occupying Deck I cargo bay. 80% casualties in Beta Squad, bodies of two Marines KIA lost to xenos. “Warrior” xenos appear to be unusually resistant to small arms fire, possibly armored, no specimens recovered. Grenades effective. Request forensic analysis of xenomorph secretions before proceeding to Deck III.

USS Ballentine Forensic Specialist Report: 1215 hrs
Xenomorphs tentatively identified as species Sapiocephala Arcturus, called “Hive Worms.” Aggressive parasites resembling large flatworms, able to neurologically manipulate, sustain and use mammal or large reptile corpses as protective shells, first identified 2246ESR on Arcturus Mining Colony, (this section CLASSIFIED under Standing Interstellar Security and Commercial Patent Rights Order 147.) Full lifecycle unknown, forensic analysis team to follow Marine forward units as they advance. Quarantine Protocol Blue in force as of 1235 hours - no personnel or human remains may be evacuated from ITV Sawdust City until lifted. Live xenomorph specimens to be preserved in situ for shipment to Interstellar Defense Base ACPrime.

Cmdr. Log, USS Ballentine: 1230 hrs
Marine squad holds Deck III central stairwell. Xenos on this level more vulnerable to fire; forensic specialist reports this is due to our having penetrated the Hive Wall, their defensive perimeter. Xenos of three distinct types, scavenging unarmed “workers,” armed “drones,” and armored “warriors.” Xenos use standard small arms, likely from Sawdust City’s weapons locker. Xeno method of communication undetermined. Have recovered four Hive Worm larvae for forensic analysis and opened all three stairwells below, but at the loss of entire squad. Marines KIA used as Hive Worm larva hosts if corpses not guarded. Marines forced to fire on our own reanimated dead in self-defense.

Cmdr. Log, USS Ballentine: 1400 hrs
Squad holds starboard stairwell on Deck IV. Damn worms use live humans to incubate their eggs! Recovered one crewmember from Cargo Bay IV with xeno egg implanted. Xenos able to release some sort of paralysis agent. Toxin bomb like a big black egg ruptures to release toxin. With all due respect, why the hell weren’t we informed of possible chemical agents? One Marine taken alive while paralyzed by toxin, now an f-----g Bug Incubator. Eggs silvery, approximately 25cm diameter. Resistance most stiff on Decks I, II & IV, have sealed airlocks to these levels, recommend assault team in hard-vacuum Power Armor armed with flash bomb launchers evacuate survivors, then decompress entire vessel.

ACPrime Mission Command: 1402 hrs – DO NOT DECOMPRESS VESSEL. CLEAR OF HOSTILE XENOMORPHS ONLY. REPEAT: POWER ARMOR USE DENIED - RISK OF DAMAGE TO VESSEL TOO GREAT. PROCEED WITH MISSION.

Cmdr. Log, USS Ballentine: 1600 hrs
Squads entered Reactor Core Subdeck through shield airlock after sealing stairwells. Reactor Core emergency strobes made target acquisition difficult, one squad lost in the advance. Two more Hive Worm types encountered, “queen” and “guard,” both armed and armored. Hive “queen” nested in Reactor Core Engineering Station, impossible to power up vessel without eliminating remaining xenos. Dud grenade failed to neutralize queen, cost four Marines KIA to overcome queen and guards at close quarters with small arms. Have lost contact with forward squad. Request permission for immediate med-evac and decontamination of survivors. I hope to hell this damn transport tub was worth it.

ACPrime Mission Command: UNITS ABOARD VESSEL ARE UNDER QUARANTINE – DO NOT EVACUATE. USS BALLENTINE IS ORDERED TO RETURN TO BASE IMMEDIATELY. FORENSIC PRESERVATION TEAM EN ROUTE TO VESSEL TO ASSIST SURVIVORS.

CLASSIFIED – YOU’RE EYES ONLY.
Exerpt of Forensic Preservation Team Exit Report, ITV Sawdust City Recovery,
18 Jan 2257ESR:

…surviving Marines were found comatose in Reactor Core and implanted with ovospheres, blood samples indicate (BLACKOUT.) Incubation monitoring is proceeding as instructed, all xenomorph specimens appear viable, the first captive hatch is expected (BLACKOUT.) The commercial potential of this xenomorph genome is estimated as High, and this team recommends continuation of captive Hive development. The monitoring team requests relocation of the Hive Host Vessel >former ITV Sawdust City< to orbit above an isolated terrestrial habitat so the entire species life cycle may be observed, as our research indicates that full maturation to the adult “queen” form may require a period of subterranean dormancy of unknown duration. Suggested terrestrial site: (BLACKOUT.)

For those who could not attend you missed a great airsofting event. However to view some of the pictures that were taken during this event please visit www.airsoftbattlezone.com. Hope to see you at the next airsoft game.

Mr & Mrs Armsdealer

1st. Wisconsin Airsoft Expo. 2007

Happy New Years everyone. It has been a little while sense I have blogged, but it has been very busy for us so far this year. If everyone remembers in early December I blogged about a spring cook out here at our store Airsoft Battle Zone. Since that blog things have changed a lot, we no longer will be having the cookout at the store. The next big event will be the 1st Wisconsin Airsoft Expo. held on March 31st, 2007. The Expo. will be held at the VFW Post 7591 in Madison, Wisconsin. The purpose for this Expo. is to promote safety and public awareness. Following is a small sample of attractions to look forward to.
1) There will be mini airsoft safety training classes.
2) There will be many airsoft teams for you to meet.
3) The National Guard and the USMC will be present.
4) The Madison Police Department will be present to answer any questions.
5) There will be airsoft retailers present with airsoft guns and equipment for sale.
6) There will be a Raffle every hour with many great prizes.
7) There will be an Airsoft Team bake sale.
This is a peek of what is in store for the 1st Wisconsin Airsoft Expo. 2007. If you would like to join us for lots of information and fun or to reserve a booth please visit us at www.wisconsinairsoft.com for all the details. Hope to see you all there.

Mr & Mrs Armsdealer

Airsoft Guns Past and Present

Airsoft, as we know it today, originated in Japan in the 1980s, when people, unable to possess real guns, wanted high quality replicas (which also fired something).

Manufacturers of gas guns such as MGC, JAC and ASAHI dominated this period of Airsoft and some of the most sought after airsoft pieces (often with a high metal content) came from these manufacturers in this era. However, as skirmishing with airsoft guns took off, fuelled by the availability of CO2 and compressed air powered automatic guns, with external gas tanks (which, although bulky, worked well on cold days), The demise of classics occurred because the Japanese government banned Green Gas and CO2 over there, so they were left essentially with 134a, an underpowered and expensive propellant.

JAC lasted through 1995 and Kokusai through 1997 producing gas rifles, though they continued making their pistols and revolvers after that. Asahi discontinued their gas guns and went to limited production guns, as far as is known exclusively bolt action. Maruzen, the maker of the Mac10 and 'mini' AUG (86% scale aug), popular beginner's guns, has continued with their smgs and pistols to this day.

It was around this time that Tokyo Marui launched their AEG (Automatic Electric Gun) range, which require no gas and work whatever the weather. The effect of these, long arms (rifles and machineguns) was to drive most of the traditional (gas gun) manufacturers out of business.

Of course, there were collectors of handguns who still wanted gas guns (the handgun equivalent of AEGs, EBB, is a damp squib so far) and manufacturers such as Tokyo Marui, Western Arms and KSC stepped in to produce, first NBBs and then GBB pistols, whilst old timers like Marushin and Maruzen stayed in the market producing their range. These guns had more efficient gas systems, which meant that a reasonable amount of gas could be stored in the magazine (or hand grip on earlier NBBs), removing the reliance on ugly external tanks and increasing the realism.

Airsoft guns were designed to be relatively low in power so that they could be used in confined spaces as space is at a premium in Japan. The combination of realism, safety, flexibility, and low cost made Airsoft more appealing to the average consumer who would like to exercise his or her steady eye! hand coordination without the inherent dangers. Some real steel owners like to practice with their GBB as the cost of ammunition is something like 1/100th of the price!

Springer’s have been around a long time (I owned a Daisy spring .177 once!) and they form the cheap end of the market, with prices ranging from $5 or $6 for very cheap, weak and poorly detailed Chinese made guns (often bearing little or no resemblance to any specific model) to around $60 for top of the range KWC Desert Eagles, with adjustable hop-up and GBB like quality and they continue to

Today, Airsoft is popular in many of the Asian countries and gaining in popularity, for both collecting and skirmishing (where the lower pain infliction and increased realism is winning converts from paintball) in the US and Europe (notably Italy and the UK).

Interestingly, whilst the AEG is the preferred long arm for most skirmishers, there's a thriving market for gas blowback rifles and sub-machine guns and these are becoming better and more powerful as the technology developed for airsoft handguns is applied back to them.

Here at Airsoft Battle Zone we hope you found this tib bit of history interesting on airsoft guns.

Mr & Mrs Armsdealer