Local Communication Facility Attacked

[Col. StaR]

A local armed group attacked a communications center earlier today at 4:06PM local time. Numbering anywhere between 16 and 30 men, these men took hostages from the facility for an unspecified amount of time.

CE was notified of the disturbance by the communications center's lack of traffic, and sent a small patrol to investigate. After the 3 man patrol had taken fire did CE bring in more units to assist. After a tense firefight, the attackers were forced to retreat into the desert, where many were captured.

Reports indicate that the men work for a Private Military Corporation, the Black Hand Corporation. Their motivation and employer is unknown at the moment, but authorities continue their search for answers.

Among the hostages was one Dr. Peterson Irving, notable scientist whose work in molecular physics helped create the particle splitter, a weapon which is in the mainstay of the GSAF arsenals today.

The Black Hand Corporation could not be reached for comment.