Title

At the group photo it felt like the scene in Jaws  "We're  going to need a bigger boat" 

Originally shared by Daniel Musto

Interitus 06 XM Anomaly
Jacksonville, Florida, U.S.A.
June 21, 2014

This is no SitRep. Well, no ordinary SitRep. This is a reflection on the whirlwind of events that led up to, and composed, the #Interitus finale in Jacksonville, Florida.

The Preface

It was April. Early April. One weekday, as is all too often the case for me, I woke up just before work around 2:00 PM to a barrage of messages. Despite #Recursion still feeling like a not-so-distant memory, a new anomaly was released... and as it turned out, it took only a few moments to realize that June would bring my travels to Birmingham and Jacksonville in support of my friends and teammates.

For those unaware - Jacksonville, Florida is no ordinary city. Since I first took up Ingress in June of 2013, the city of Jacksonville has been not only a blue stronghold, but a city wherein regional, and occasionally global, operations were either planned and/or took place. It was shortly before the #Calvinball artifact game of Recursion that I got in touch with the then-new pacesetters for Jacksonville, the 904 Enlightened, as well as their partners in crime located in Gainesville. The insanity centered around artifact no. 1 only brought us closer together and I knew it was only a matter of time before I'd be heading to both. As it so turned out, I would find myself not only with these people in their respective cities, but all over our part of the southeast.

Initial Phases

There was no time spared in preparation. Regional and local leaders were already present and chatting as I woke up that afternoon. With so much time ahead of us, we started off in a positive light, regardless of the tasks that lie ahead. Over the next several weeks, the general infrastructure for the event was rolled out, with the assistance of those who had helped lead in the past. As many of us were veterans or leads of previous anomalies, we were determined that we would not relive the mistakes of the past, but learn from them. Recruitment and strategy took place increasingly through the latter weeks of April into May, as our region saw a distinct increase in inter-city/inter-state travel that only helped strengthen relations that would soon become invaluable.

As May faded into June, recruitment efforts continued to accelerate and many hours were poured into the painstaking process of finalizing team strategy and determining the optimal mix of agents into their future teams. Should anyone doubt how many hours can be spent pouring over spreadsheets analyzing and preparing anomaly teams... I assure you that it is no small feat. Hah. Additionally, at least for myself, I know that my local team took it increasingly upon themselves to assume command for managing our local area's operations, and for that I know I am very grateful. Irony is sacrificing the short-term fun of going out and playing in exchange for busying oneself with the arduous and often frustrating work in planning one of these events.

Enter June

As that first week of June came and went, we saw Interitus 05 Birmingham enter play. Not only was my intent to attend due to a close friendship, but because my time in Mobile (mostly the experiences of my teammates in Mobile) had demonstrated how vast of an impact that experience can have on preparedness and performance in an anomaly. I have to recognize those two individuals here who, after my automatic transmission needed replacing the week prior, took it upon themselves to secure and pay for transportation for the three of us to set off for Birmingham shortly before midnight that Friday.

Birmingham brought many lessons to the three of us, and I consider my own experience on the ground, as well as the insight I gained from an overall strategic perspective, as a large component in assessing how best to attack the anomaly in Jacksonville that would follow two weeks after. Birmingham leadership continued to provide assistance to me over the course of the next two weeks, discussion and analysis of tactics on the ground which were essential and for which I am deeply appreciative.

In addition to Birmingham's assistance in those two weeks preceding Jacksonville's event, I spoke at great length with Cincinnati anomaly operations - conversations which provided me the ability to be further versed in how to best streamline and promote components such as communication and logistics. Many thanks here as Ohio went out of its way to provide information it considered the most crucial, as well as being available to address any other concern that was raised.

Weeks Turn Into Days

The two weeks prior to June 21st were probably amongst the most busy, and often hectic, I've experienced. I can only imagine that many others felt similarly as preparations continued to be made. Adjustments to strategy were made as demanded by lessons learned on the field from recent events. We all were determined to use missteps of the past to propel our success in the future. Contingency plans were put into place so that we might be ready for whatever lie ahead for us on the field that day. Preparedness is key to survival, a lesson hard-learned, at least speaking from personal experience.

As friends and new agents alike approached me about my thoughts on the eventual outcome, my answers were purposely concise (not a trait I am known for): We will account for the mistakes of the past, we'll give it every effort we have got, and regardless, we would enjoy ourselves and the time spent that day.

But what chance do we have to win? I can't accurately count how often I was asked this question, but I always had the same response. Every single person would be instrumental, any single person could make it or break it for us. This anomaly is not, by any means, lost. Overwhelming numbers? We accounted for them, we planned for them. If overrun, we had mechanisms in place to deny them as many points as possible while maximizing our own. A plan in place for every situation.

The 904 Enlightened continued to be critical in providing details localized to the event, working fluently with the rest of the leadership. The combination of leaders and veterans from throughout SE-SIC, in conjunction with the 904 Enlightened, led to an effective force in tackling an anomaly in a city with newer leadership, and this event has only served to foster that community.

The Final Hours

The final Thursday brought me to Jacksonville and plans were truly finalized as the leadership and agents began to flow into the city from as far west as Texas, as far north as North Carolina, and as far south as Miami and Puerto Rico.

I'm not sure that the reality of the situation dawned on me until that Friday evening: Walking into Memorial Park, ...late as always, I was greeted by the sight of scores of Enlightened gathered at the center, cheering and clamouring. This was the excitement we needed, it was the attitude we had to have.

Saturday arrives and upon conclusion of all other meetings, we yet again consolidate our faction at Memorial Park. The atmosphere was relaxed, yet focused. This is probably the best way to define the Enlightened that participated in this event. After the 1:00 hour passed and the Resistance had not yet showed, we all took several faction pictures. For a few minutes afterwards, teammates chatted just as the Resistance began to enter the park. Humorously, just as the Resistance began to march into Memorial Park, one unidentified individual, known as "Gumby", dissipated the tension in the air by working his Enlightened crowd into cheers and laughter.

The Zero Hour

At this point, this anomaly is essentially out of my hands... there is no more planning to be done. Teams move out and the anomaly begins in force. Glancing at my scanner throughout the first hour, the cluster looks considerably split. Not until the first measurement's results are released does it sink in that everything we'd fought for is finally a reality - we had won that measurement, and we could do so again.

The second hour brought me to meet with more teams and work to rally their spirits off the first hour's results. They enjoyed the lead we now had, but focused almost entirely on how to proceed. The idea that we were guaranteed victory was something that seemed preposterous. Through the third and fourth hour, the entire faction gave their every effort to the plans that were laid, and those relayed by our amazingly adaptable operations crew.

Conclusion

I don't think there is any word that better describes my own feelings after that fourth measurement concluded other than... surreal. Even moving into the cross-faction after party, again surrounded by my friends and teammates, it was unreal. The afterparty was quieted as Joe Philley read the final measurement's score, after which the faction erupted. We had done it. We had succeeded. The southeastern United States had secured their first anomaly win... in Jacksonville, Florida. The Resistance was a worthy opponent and battled hard, being wise to switch tactics as allowed, but the momentum was carried by us, by the Enlightened and every team... every agent, was only more invigorated and energized as victory became further and further within reach. 

Some may suggest that the overall win by the Resistance, somehow “negated” our efforts - this is simply not true. We learned from the mistakes of the past, we consolidated, and we used every tool at our disposal to secure our local victory. While the anomaly may be lost overall, we cannot fault ourselves for that which was beyond our control.

Final Note

There are no odds that are insurmountable. There is nothing that lies ahead that cannot be countered with enough time and effort. Essentially, however, it comes down to being a single entity at the end of the day. Many teams, many individuals, all focused on one single goal - can accomplish far greater deeds than someone who chooses to remain alone. Thus, on Saturday, June the 21st, we were not players, we were not regions, the Enlightened were a solitary unit, laser-guided on accomplishing their collective goal. So we intended, so we fought, so we won.

Total for this Secondary Site:
Resistance - 79 - Enlightened - 165

Niantic Project Ingress Joe Philley Brandon Badger Brian Rose Matilde Tusberti