Operation SPRUCE began on 8 September with the departure of eight NH90 TTH helicopters from the temporary VFL staging facilities in Irakeh. The aircraft had been configured for an extended-range, one-way movement, each carrying two external fuel tanks while nonessential removable equipment had been left behind to reduce weight. Passenger loads were deliberately kept light. Each helicopter carried roughly 10–11 personnel, placing the initial contingent at around 80–88 VFL personnel. The reduced load provided additional margin for fuel, weapons, communications equipment, medical supplies, engineering stores, and changing weather or routing conditions. With the external tanks fitted, the NH90s possessed sufficient range for the planned movement, although the mission remained close enough to the aircraft’s extended-range envelope that planners avoided unnecessary payload and retained a conservative fuel reserve. The journey from Irakeh to the landing area was expected to take roughly six hours, depending on routing, weather, and cruise conditions. The first contingent consisted mainly of light infantry accompanied by smaller engineer, medical, communications, reconnaissance, and command elements. It was not intended to operate as an independent combat formation. Its purpose was to establish the VFL’s first forward presence inside Karakia and determine whether a sustainable entry point for larger follow-on forces could be created. Knowledge of the deployment among the Vanguardists remained tightly restricted. A small number of senior political and military leaders had been informed that Väldurenmaa intended to provide assistance, but many Vanguardist troops operating near the region had not been told that a foreign VFL contingent was entering the country. The secrecy reduced the number of people capable of leaking information to the Red Line, but created an obvious risk of confusion. An uninformed Vanguardist patrol encountering armed foreign troops could easily misidentify them, potentially resulting in an armed standoff or accidental exchange of fire. VFL personnel were therefore instructed to avoid Vanguardist positions, checkpoints, and concentrations of troops wherever possible until proper communication and identification arrangements could be established through senior leadership. The selected landing area lay within Vanguardist-controlled southern Karakia and had been examined beforehand using available reconnaissance and mapping. Nearby terrain had also been identified as potentially suitable for a basic expeditionary airstrip, although its actual condition could not be confirmed until engineers inspected it directly. Among the personnel aboard the helicopters was Josef, recently promoted and beginning his second combat deployment. He had volunteered for the first contingent shortly after personnel were requested for Operation SPRUCE. Once on the ground, the priorities were straightforward: establish communications with Irakeh, organize local security, account for personnel and equipment, inspect the surrounding area, and determine whether the proposed strip site was actually usable. The engineer element carried surveying equipment, chainsaws, axes, marking equipment, and basic field-engineering stores, but lacked the heavy machinery necessary for major earthmoving. If the site proved viable, bulldozers, excavators, rollers, trucks, and other equipment would have to be obtained later from Vanguardist-controlled territory or introduced through subsequent phases of the operation. The helicopters were expected to remain in Karakia after arrival rather than immediately returning to Irakeh. This made establishing a dependable source of aviation fuel, maintenance support, spare parts, and secure operating space one of the most important early logistical requirements. The proposed airhead was far from guaranteed. Poor soil, inadequate drainage, unexpected terrain, equipment failures, supply problems, or a change in control of the surrounding region could delay the project or force it to be abandoned entirely. The initial contingent was therefore not expected to begin receiving large transport aircraft immediately.
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