Phase 1:
The insertion of Baker Group into Sickney Hub as per Op Daisy (qv) proceeded smoothly. The Docks area contained several dozen bodies, evidently the victims of explosive decompression.
As per SOP, all robots encountered were disabled, including seven armoured Stevedore robots, which at one stage attempted to rush elements of Baker Group. Squad B3 swept the Hub exterior, securing and disabling all shuttles. No casualties were sustained.

Phase 2:
Baker Group penetrated to the sub-level of Stickney Hub. No opposition was encountered, but during routine blowing of doors (to prevent Moriarty trapping members of the Group away from others while an ambush was staged), a pressurised area was depressurised in which two unprotected locals were hiding. Attempts to get survival suits to them were not in time to prevent death.
Subsequently, orders were changed so that doors under 'local' control were not blown or opened until Gendarmerie forces could bring up portable airlocks. However, this led to delays in clearing areas, which may have compromised the overall operation.
This incident notwithstanding, 26 survivors were found within the Hub area, and evacuated via Marine shuttle to Phobos mining base.

At around this time, reports from Able Group suggested that the Moriarty AI had managed to infiltrate the command circuits of Marine combat robots, causing friendly fire incidents. Although all Baker Group robots had been disarmed on my instructions and were being used for portage only, I ordered all Group combat robots disabled at this time.

The Hub and control rooms were secured, but no AI components had been found. Information from local technicians suggested that two had been moved from locations within the Hub.
Conflicting information was reaching Group HQ at this time on how to deal with AI components.
- We were initially told that such units had to be destroyed.
- During our approach to Stickney this was changed - now the units had to be switched off but NOT destroyed.
- We were subsequently told that such units had dangerous defensive mechanisms which had to be neutralised first, and that such could only be done by the presence of a Gendarme with an operational chip in his suit. Liaison was unable to furnish us with any such gendarmes.
- We were then told that units had to be switched off, then back on again to clear their programming to a local setting.
- We were then told that Moriarty was apparently co-operating with Friendly forces, and that there was a rumoured alien intelligence which was causing the problem against which Moriarty was struggling - this latter I discarded as likely disinformation from Morarity. However, throughout the engagement reliable information on how to deal with Moriarty units was not forthcoming, and in my opinion this was a major contributor to our failure to disable the computer. Those responsible must pay a heavy price for failing to pass on information. I must single out local Martian officials as being highly obstructive in this regard.

Phase 3:
Baker Group was now ordered to break out from the Hub to clear edge components. We began with Farmer, where we had been told that local Gendarmerie were under severe pressure, but Squads B1 and B3 were told not to enter the block by Gendarme officer Hayward, since he was under the impression that we were 'murdering' local citizens and he did not wish to endanger his family - within the block. I was unable to convince him that he was most likely receiving images doctored by Moriarty, nor that millions were dying on Mars. When he threatened to open fire if Marine units entered Farmer, and seeing that the situation seemed not as bad as stated, I pulled my troops back to avoid unnecessary bloodshed.
Next a call for assistance was received from Mayor Elsmore in Eagleton. When I began to move units to assist this was countermanded by Col. Brown, who ordered us to Appleton. In retrospect, valuable time was lost in this uncertainty over objectives.
Squads B4 and B2 entered Appleton, backed up by B3, meeting resistance from combat robots.
At about this time, it was discovered that a squad from Able Group was under pressure in Bluebird. I sent B1 to assist. He reported heavy defences, and took several casualties, being pinned in position until reinforced.

Phase 4:
The Group assault seemed to have broken the enemy forces in Appleton, who were making a withdrawal to Bluebird. Accordingly B4 was left to mop up until relieved by Gendarmes from Farmer, who we were assured were on their way, and B1 and B3 sent to join the developing engagement in Bluebird.
The Able Squad which had entered Bluebird had, it turned out, been wiped out by heavily armed robots of unknown type. These three advanced 'Buma' combat robots, with independent AI control, very fast reactions and grenade launchers caused severe problems and casualties for Baker Group forces, and B2 and B3 both lost most of their men down, until the Squad was finally able to concentrate enough firepower to bring the robots down.
Enemy resistance now appeared to be concentrating on/around the Computer centre and Skunworks. With B4 finally relieved from Appleton - somewhat tardily - by Gendarme forces and able to join Baker Group in Bluebird, a concerted assault was made on these areas. Enemy defence was tenacious, with up to 20 combat robots employed in narrow passageways which made concentration of force difficult. Unfortunately, this last ditch defence by combat robots allowed Moriarty just sufficient time to make his escape.
Special mention must be made of Lt Attfield here, whose Squad was able to dispose of a dozen combat robots without loss.

Overall:
I believe that Baker Group performed highly creditably under difficult circumstances. Apart from one or two tactical misjudgements, leading to a few unnecessary casualties, all Baker Group officers generally did what was required of them. One or two Squad commanders were inclined to be somewhat more 'gung-ho' than the tactical situation warranted, and MAD dosages should perhaps be reviewed. However, the principle of the drug's use in combat seems amply justified following the Buma combat, during which any 'normal' military unit would have broken.

Other recommendations:
1. This is the first Marine engagement against significant enemy forces. It must be said that in confined spaces some way needs to be found of bringing heavier firepower to bear against armoured defenders. A precision-guided indirect fire weapon system of some sort would be invaluable.
2. Using combat robots for portage still did not ease logistical problems, and in any even seems quite wasteful. Some form of automated transport, and/or perhaps a dedicated logistics section would have made life much easier for Group HQ units.
3. A major problem was encountered when trying to clear areas of non-combatants who were 'trapped' in pressurised areas. Issuing 1-2 portable airlocks to each Group HQ unit would have avoided many of the problems encountered with Gendarme forces, allowed us to clear areas quicker and so wasted less time, and generally improved the conduct of the operation. Thought should be given to this in subsequent missions in civilian habitats.
4. One of our greatest handicaps towards the end of the combat was not being able to use grenades against the robots, even in an area cleared of non-combatants, because of the alleged threat to the citizens on Mars caused by totally shutting down Moriarty components. We are now told that actually all such components should indeed have been destroyed. If we had had the correct information at the time, I believe that the use of grenades might have won us that final combat outside Skunworks, and may have won us the entire engagement. Again, I urge that those responsible for the duff information be found and suitably punished.
5. On a personal note, I hope never to have to face AI's again, especially if deployed in a combat robot like the Bumas! Three of them proved almost a match for an entire Marine Group. I hope that any subsequent legislation on AI use doesn't overlook them.

Major Hands,
4th Solar Marine Regt.