Russian Civil War - Phase III, 2004

Due to severe economic downturns and the collapse of the former Soviet Union, political and military leadership in Russia has splintered into two discrete factions. One faction is advocating a return to Soviet-style leadership and government, and has managed to subvert a substantial portion of Russia's military, naval and air assets on the Kola Peninsula. The result of these divisions is an armed civil conflict. The political and security interests of NATO members and the western world preclude a return to Soviet-era leadership in post-Soviet Russia. Furthermore, in addition to the substantial military assets under the control of the 'Red Russian' forces, there are various WMD assets within their potential reach. It is believed that the rebel forces would not hesitate to employ those assets should they succeed in acquiring them, and the recognized 'Blue Russian' leadership all but admitted they could not prevent that without western assistance. The USS Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group was deployed to the waters north of the Kola Peninusula to defeat the threat of Red Russian forces obtaining WMD's and their delivery vehicles. During the first two phases of the operation, the strike group rolled back Red Russian integrated air defenses on the Kola Peninsula and conducted operations to destroy and/or deny various WMD assets to Red Russian forces. With Blue Russian forces obtaining the upper hand and rapidly moving north, the strike group intends to accelerate the Red Russian collapse by attacking their logistics lines and forces from the rear, coupled with an amphibious raid by the USMC in order to further demoralize the rebel leadership and perhaps draw forces away from the Blue Russian advance.