REDemption - Part 3 - Heart Adak

In a surprise move, Russian troops have seized the island of Shemya in the Alutians. It is unclear if they have a strategic objective, or if this is simply intended to draw resources away from Ukraine. Shemya is an icy cold rock where the US has an early warning radar, called Cobra Dane. Also present is a small air station suitable for refueling and emergency landings. It is operated as an extension of Elmendorf AFB. In total, only about 240 servicemen, and about 50 contractors were present on the island. East of Shemya is another cold rock called Adak. During the cold war, Adak was a signifcant naval air station. Budget cuts caused the base to be abandoned, and today there is no military presence on the island. Only about 300 civillians live in the town of Adak, making it the Western most municipality in the United States. The town's airport is exceptionally well equipped for such a small town because it used to be the Naval Air Station. There is concern that the Russian may want to control approaches to the resource rich areas around Alaska, but securing a line of islands.