Less than four months after Fidel Castro suffers a fatal stroke, interim president Enrique Lopez-Famosa has lain the groundwork for formal elections and a movement to pro-Western democratic rule in Cuba. Working with United Nations advisors, President Lopez-Famosa has been drafting a new Cuban constitution and has enlisted the support of many cabinet ministers in the move to democratic reform.
Trouble first struck in the form of Hurricane Alex, a devistating storm that leapt out of the Caribbean and laid waste to large areas of Cuba. Red Cross and other international relief organizations rushed to aid the population, but the new infrastructure and authority of the fledgling government was stretched to its limit.
At 0600 this morning, a junta of hard-line Cuban military and intelligence officers opposed to the democratic reforms, led by Raul Castro, staged a coup and seized control of all airfields, news media and government offices. Taking advantage of the chaos within the country following Hurricane Alex and the deployment of Cuban troops throughout the country to assist with relief work, the junta had total control of the island in a matter of hours. President Lopez-Famosa and members of the democratic reform movement have been seized by military hardliners. Contact has been lost with the United Nations advisory teams.
An appeal has gone out to the United States from the Cuban President’s wife and a few cabinet ministers who escaped the well orchestrated coup. United States military forces have gone on alert and gather at staging areas in Florida, Georgia and North Carolina.
Black clouds gather in the tropical skies. A crack of thunder rolls across the sea as the heavens are split with the violence of Emerald Lightning.
Click on the name of a location for pictures and video intel
Operation Emerald Lightning Event Details
Admission Cost:
Admission for Operation Emerald Lightning will be $45 per player ($20 pre-registration fee with the other $25 paid the day of the game or $45 registration fee can be paid online during registration). Admission price includes lunch being served by Wayne's World of Paintball. Registration for this event will be done online. Registration cannot be done onsite. Players showing up the day of the game will be subject to a $60 fee to attend the event.
Times of Operation:
Gates open at 8:00am. Registration and check-in are from 8:00am to 9:30am. Game and safety briefing will be from 9:30am to 10:00am. Game starts at 10:00am and ends at approximately 8pm.
Radio Use:
Radios can be used by any members of Blue and Red Force. Radio Communications will be organized and assigned by each team's CO.
Field Ammunition:
Biodegradable BB's will be required for this event as per the field owner's request. If you bring your own bio-degradable BBs to the field we ask that you leave them in sealed bags to be verified by staff. The bag of BB's must say "Biodegradable" in ENGLISH on the bag. BB's that claim to be Biodegradable but do not say them in English are NOT allowed. Help us keep the door open for future Wayne's World Events!
Smoke & Grenades:
Military smoke grenades are allowed. Smoke grenades will be sold at the game by MGP Staff . We request that airsoft grenades be made using pop-corn kernels to keep it field-friendly for the future.
Lodging:
Hotel accommodations are as follows:
Travelodge
352-622-4121
1626 SW Pine Ave
Ocala, FL
Speak to Michelle or Melissa
Ask for the "paintball rate" which is going to be $47/night plus taxes. The hotel is about 3 miles away from Wayne's World of Paintball.
Directions to Wayne's World Of Paintball 4841 S Pine Ave, Ocala, FL, 34480
Directions from Jacksonville-
Get on I-95S and take exit 351B to Lake City/Tallahassee and go 18 miles. Then take US-301 to exit 343 to Baldwin/Starke and go .2 miles. Bear right onto the US-301 S ramp to Lawtey/Starke and go 1/10th of a mile. Bear right at US-301 S and go 18 miles. Continue on US-301 S and go 7.7 miles. Bear right at US-301 S and go 59 miles. Make a U-turn at US-27N/US-301 N/US-441 N and go .4 miles.
Directions from Tampa-
Take the I-275 N ramp to I-4 and go 16 miles. Take the I-75N ramp and go 67 miles. Take the CR-484 exit 341 to Belleview/Dunnellon and go .4 miles. Bear right at CR-484 and go 4.2 miles. Turn left at SE 36th Avenue and go 4 miles. Turn right at SE 95th Street and go .5 miles. Turn left at US-27 N/US-301 N/US-441 N and go 4.3 miles.
Directions from Miami-
Take I-95N and go 9.6 miles. Continue on Florida's Turnpike N towards SR-826 W and go 265 miles. Take the I-75N ramp and go 25 miles. Take the US-27 exit 354 to Ocala/Williston and go .3 miles. Bear right onto the US-27 S and go 7.7 miles. Make a U-turn at US-27 N/US-301 N/US-441 N and go .4 miles.
From outside of Ocala
From inside of Ocala
Operation Emerald Lightning Sponsors
Operation Emerald Lightning Updates
September 25, 2006-
Operation Emerald Lightning will be held at Wayne's World of Paintball on January 20, 2007.
October 21, 2006-
Operation Emerald Lightning registration will start on November 1, 2006.
November 1, 2006-
Operation Emerald Lightning registration is OPEN! Register now!
Airsoft Extreme has come on board as our first event sponsor for Operation Emerald Lightning.
November 14, 2006-
Shadow Ops - Tactical CQB Shoothouse in Jacksonville, FL has come on board as our second event sponsor for Operation Emerald Lightning.
November 20, 2006- WGC Shop has come on board as our third event sponsor for Operation Emerald Lightning.
Official Player Roster is available. Registration is now CLOSED.
Bio BB's Update
Biodegradable BB's will be required at this event as per Wayne's World. Bio BB's are for sale now. Click here to preorder your bags of BB's now.
Weapon Rentals
Don't have an AEG but still want to participate in Operation Emerald Lightning? MGP has you covered! We have 10 ICS M15 Carbines waiting to be used in combat! $35 gets you the AEG Rental Package for the duration of Emerald Lightning. Visit our Weapons Rental page for more information!
Uniform Requirements for Operation Emerald Lightning
US Army - Woodland and ACU patterns are acceptable
Woodland
ACU
US Marines - Woodland and Woodland MARPAT are acceptable
Woodland
Woodland MARPAT
Cuban Forces - OD Green, Black and Tigerstripe are acceptable
