« | Find us that convoy, Staff Sergeant. And I'll try to un-fuck things here on this end. Andrew MacKinnon
|
» |
Andrew MacKinnon was a supporting character in ArmA 3's Prologue and The East Wind campaigns.
Background[]
The commanding officer of NATO's multi-national Task Force Aegis deployed to the Republic of Altis and Stratis[1][2][3], MacKinnon went by the callsign of Broadway[4].
He was deployed alongside the rest of NATO's peacekeeping force to the country following the outbreak of fighting between the Altian government of Georgious Akhanteros, and an insurgency group that called itself the "Freedom and Independence Army" (FIA).[3]
Aside from commanding the task force, he also served as a liaison to the Altis Armed Forces. He worked closely with the AAF's leadership, supervising troop movements and tactics, while also serving as a third-party mediator between the new Altian government and the FIA.[2][5]
Prologue (2034)[]
« | Conway: MacKinnon didn't seem to be too happy. Adams: Who can blame him? He's the one that always has to do the cleaning up around here. SSG Thomas Adams and SGT Conway
|
» |
In reality, MacKinnon's role (and that of the task force) was purely symbolic in nature. Even though the entire purpose of the deployment was to prevent further bloodshed between the two sides, MacKinnon could do little but protest whenever Akhanteros made an overt move against the guerillas due to CSAT's presence.[2][6][7]
On May 10th, 2034[8], a small tremor briefly shook the island. One of MacKinnon's subordinates, Staff Sergeant Thomas Adams, radioed in to ask MacKinnon about the earthquake. He reassured the squad leader that it was nothing to be concerned about, reinforced by Akhanteros himself who similarly brushed it aside.[9]
Seven days later on May 17th[8], the Altian government arranged for talks between them and the FIA in response to an incident on the outskirts of Kore seven days prior. The incident had resulted in the deaths of several locals who supposedly had ties to the FIA at the hands of an AAF patrol.[10] The meeting, as per the government's offer, would be taking place at the old capital's Ministry of Defense.[5]
Almost immediately, things begin to go awry when an AAF convoy from the AAC airfield fails to report in at one of Kavala's security checkpoints.[5] MacKinnon dispatched two of his subordinates, SSG Adams and Sergeant Conway, to search for the convoy at its last known location.[11] In the process of their search, they run into a group of FIA insurgents but are forced to retaliate when the latter fire upon the peacekeepers.[12][13] SSG Adams' men fought off the insurgents and secured the convoy, only to find a single survivor who was in critical condition.[14] MacKinnon sent additional backup to assist them[15], but the survivor would eventually perish from his wounds before they could arrive.[16][17]
Not long after, what appeared to be a city-wide uprising breaks out not just at the MoD but also across all of Kavala. Conflicting reports, suggesting that the FIA had attempted to double-cross government officials, were being thrown left and right. MacKinnon needed answers and quickly recalled SSG Adams to find out what exactly had happened.[8][17]
Relations between the task force and the AAF would hit a new low when MacKinnon is forced to order his subordinates to step aside at the MoD. MacKinnon's subordinates had attempted stop Akhanteros' men from executing several detained insurgents.[7] But as his authority was effectively overruled by CSAT, MacKinnon could do little but order them to stand down and allow the executions to continue even as his men protested the decision.[8][7][18]
The East Wind (2035)[]
One year later[8], the task force's mandate is gradually rescinded and are restricted to the smaller island of Stratis instead, with the mainland of Altis becoming off-limits to all NATO personnel.[6][19]
As their five-year long mission was drawing to a close, MacKinnon's responsibility shifted from peacekeeping to decommissioning the remaining NATO facilities on the island.[20] The majority of combat units were already shipped out of the country, leaving MacKinnon and few other members of his commanding staff, along with mostly non-combat support troops[21], behind to supervise the final stages of the drawdown.[22][23]
« | Okay, there's been slight change of plan. Commander MacKinnon requires logistical support down at Kamino. He left just as you guys were coming in. LT Edwards orders CPL Ben Kerry to assist MacKinnon at the Kamino Firing Range
|
» |
While awaiting the arrival of private military contractors to handle the rest of the process[23], MacKinnon suddenly leaves Camp Rogain and quickly drives off in the direction of the Kamino Firing Range for unknown reasons.[24] However, prior to leaving, he had also told the officer in charge of Rogain, Lieutenant Edwards, to relay orders to SSG Adams and his men to meet up with him at facility for an assignment.[25][26]
Death[]
With airspace tightly restricted and AAF checkpoints set up all across the island[22], MacKinnon could only travel by road. He took one of the MRAPs at Rogain and drove through the checkpoint on the outskirts of the camp.[24]
Not long after he passes through the checkpoint, his MRAP is suddenly rocked by an explosion of some sort and is flipped over onto its side. Heavily injured, MacKinnon climbs out of the vehicle and begins crawling in the direction of Kamino before passing out from his wounds.[27]
« | Fuck, he's not breathing! What the hell happened!?!? ... Staff Sergeant Adams to Kamino, come in! Commander MacKinnon's down! Requesting urgent assistance! Over! Adams urgently radios for medical assistance after MacKinnon's MRAP is discovered
|
» |
Moments later, Corporal Ben Kerry and SSG Adams drive along the same route that MacKinnon took on the way to Kamino. They spot MacKinnon's overturned MRAP and his body lying in the middle of road, immediately stopping their truck to find out what had happened.[27] Adams checked MacKinnon's vitals and tries to resuscitate him, but it becomes clear that MacKinnon was already deceased.[28]
Post-The East Wind[]
A month later[8], the fate of TF Aegis is mentioned in passing by news reporters[29] and members of the 111th Infantry Division (111th ID), who are deployed to the country in response to the AAF's subsequent "retaliatory" attack against the task force.[30]
Who or what exactly caused MacKinnon's death continues to remain a mystery.[29]
Personality and Appearance[]
MacKinnon is a middle-aged, Caucasian male with short, dark brown hair. He has a lightly shaved beard, and wears the standard attire of an officer that consists of MTP-camouflaged fatigues, a Patrol Cap, and a ranger green-coloured bandoleer.
A tireless individual, MacKinnon was a dutiful officer who tried to maintain the balance between keeping the peace and following orders. He had a slightly sarcastic side to him, and poked fun at his subordinates on occasion.[31]
« | Adams: Christ, did they put enough stairs in this thing? MacKinnon: Having trouble there, Staff Sergeant? Adams: No, sir! MacKinnon and Adams while climbing up stairs at the Kavala hospital
|
» |
Like the troops under his command, MacKinnon was also critical of the Altian regime under Akhanteros and was highly dismissive of their actions. But as an officer; not to mention being the task force's liaison to the AAF, he had to keep his opinions to himself and was mostly powerless to stop their actions.
Trivia[]
- MacKinnon's makeshift grave can later be found if the player chooses to go scouting after Blackfoot Down. It can be seen at the exact same location where his overturned MRAP was initially spotted in Drawdown 2035.
- It is never explicitly stated as to who or what exactly killed MacKinnon[32][33], nor is it explained as to why MacKinnon rushed off to Kamino with such urgency.
- What is clear however, is that MacKinnon's death was caused by an explosive of some sort due to the large blast crater that can be found next to his MRAP. Co-incidentally, an unmarked helicopter can be seen by Adams and Kerry on their flight into Camp Rogain offloading unknown personnel at Camp Maxwell several minutes prior to MacKinnon's death.[34]
Gallery[]
Notes[]
- ↑ MacKinnon's corpse is discovered by CPL Kerry and SSG Adams lying on the ground outside of his overturned MRAP. The precise cause of his death is not known, however.
References[]
|