Undercover Operations Unfold in Gotham City: First Installment Unveiled

Task Force Gotham HQ, March 25th, 2029

Maj. Gen. Paul Thomas was on edge as he waited for the clearance team to signal from the last bunker. His Task Force Gotham, a specialized Army unit, had been fighting in urban areas for three weeks. Most of their missions were relatively uncontested, but not all. Two sites had resulted in heartbreaking losses when Lashkar-e-Fatah operatives detonated radiological dispersal bombs. Thomas grappled with the logistics of his decisions, balancing the need to save soldiers with the importance of securing the cesium-137 before another LeF attack on Indian soil.

The US State Department liaisons on Thomas's staff were hopeful these operations would deescalate the nuclear saber-rattling that followed the LeF attack on New Delhi. But Pakistani officials blatantly refused to cooperate. Through unofficial contacts in the ISI, Thomas learned about the New Delhi attack - an ISI handler had leaked the location of Pakistan's stockpile of weapons-grade cesium, leading to the disaster.

Finding the cesium-137 required a drone swarm that established a no-fly zone and persistently monitored the LeF's movements. An extensive HUMINT network, combined with the Special Forces' Regional Support Company, helped identify the location of LeF hideouts and their hidden entrances. Once the bunkers were secured, pumping "render safe" gel allowed bacteria to cocoon the radioactive isotopes, transforming them into a cement-like sludge. This sludge was later transported offsite, allowing Task Force Gotham to evacuate their wounded and cleanup efforts.

Rooting out the remaining LeF insurgents was growing more difficult by the day. Every time their location was geolocated, they went silent, pushing the JTF to move the streets to find them. Rumor had it that at least three detained LeF operatives were directly linked to the New Delhi bombing, and they would likely face international war crimes trials at The Hague.

But Thomas's intel fusion officer had contacts in the ISI who had come in handy during this mission. And through the combination of his intelligence teams and the local CIA station, Thomas had managed to establish a rapport with the Sindh Police, especially in the South Zone. This collaboration had been integral to the success of their operations in Karachi.

With the last bunker "all clear," Thomas focused on redeployment operations and the hunt for remaining LeF cell leaders. As his squads moved into position, Staff Sgt. Josh Parker made a strategic decision.

Evidently, the people of Karachi were wary of the ongoing military presence in their city. Parker aimed to change that, at least temporarily, by deploying a drone to conduct reconnaissance in a residential block known to harbor LeF operatives. He also decided to exploit their Pavlovian response to the sound of a drone by issuing a public announcement warning the locals about the drone's presence.

In the end, it took minimal effort from Parker and his squad to root out the remaining LeF operatives and secure their target building. With the mission complete, Task Force Gotham could turn their attention to the next challenge. The war in Karachi was far from over.

Maj. Gen. Paul Thomas's concerns over Task Force Gotham's operations involved more than just logistics, as the threat of Lashkar-e-Fatah detonating radiological dispersal bombs required enhanced security measures.
The military operations were not only critical for defense against Lashkar-e-Fatah but were also aimed at deescalating the nuclear tensions with Pakistan, a task that seemed challenging given Pakistan's lack of cooperation.
The intelligence gathered through drone surveillance, HUMINT networks, and Special Forces helped locate Lashkar-e-Fatah hideouts and secure the cesium-137, making it unavailable for further attacks.
As Task Force Gotham prepared for the next phase of their mission, politics would play a crucial role in their relations with the locals, as the use of drones for reconnaissance could impact public perceptions in war-and-conflicts zones such as Karachi.