The National Liberation Army of Sangria, or the ELN, as it is more commonly known, was a splinter paramilitary organization, claiming to be merely seeking the “…liberation of their brothers in San Marcos…”, it is a well-known secret that there have been many trying to organize a separate nation in the Huartzek Forest for hundreds of years, and that the ELN is simply the latest incarnation of those efforts.

In 2972, the ELN was founded by Fabio Vásquez Castaño and several other Sangrian rebels, who fled into the forests of Huartzek in an effort to begin a revolution anew. His most famous follower was Camilo Torres Restrepo, a Catholic priest and former professor of the national university, who openly ridiculed the government for its gross inequalities between citizens. Espousing radical ideals of Liberation Theology, they gathered a force of troops from among the poorest and sought off-world backing.

In 2981-82, they survived a government crack-down and managed to reconstitute, spending the next couple decades slowly building their strength, gaining monies and support through kidnapping, robbery and raiding military armories and convoys for supplies.

By 3016, their numbers had grown to the point where they were able to gain the attention of the DMI (Davion Military Intelligence), who dispatched a few advisors, and a small shipment of arms, food, and other supplies. Davion had intended to turn the force into a viable ally on the world, with the potential to off-set its rising Taurian support. ELN had other ideas. Using the DMI aid (which they continued to receive) they intended to set up their own national state (paying lip-service to House Davion), but they really only succeeded in becoming a rather well-armed group of marauders.

In mid-3018, the main force of ELN was ensconced in their training camp, when the Iron Dingoes, recently hired to organize a defensive battalion for the southern district of Garcia, ran into the camp with seven Mechs. The resulting fire-fight eradicated the bulk of the regiment gathered for training, most of its heavy support weapons, all its supplies and vehicles, and more than two battalions of infantry. They also lost their advisors. The group broke into component squads and scattered into the forests.

Lacking leadership and direction, the forces that survived the battle were broken as a formal unit, but the theory of the ELN lived on. Today, the ELN is found in small squad-sized forces in isolated villages and towns across the rainforest. They claim to continue to be fighting for a unified state, but have no real direction or unity. Sometimes, leaders of the ELN cells gather to discuss direction, but these talks always break down into in-fighting over leadership, sometimes with a fair loss of life. At present, the closest thing to a leader is Rodriguez Quinto, who is a shrewd jungle fighter, battle-experienced and unwilling to lose too many lives. He continues to bide his time, accepting whatever support he may, and trying to avoid getting his force into too many fights.

All soldiers of the ELN were trained to survive in the forests with good night fighting capabilities and a moderate skill at arms. Uniforms vary from camouflage fatigues in formation marches for recruitment and propaganda footage, to traditional Emberá clothing and tattoos in most activities. Most are armed with the traditional HG-762 “Holy Grail” Assault Rifles that are commonly found in the region, and often carry a number of extra clips purchased through black market contacts in Ciudad Garcia. They have no heavy support weapons, and the best vehicles available are usually motorcycles.

In late-3034, the military forces of Sangrian Army Command moved into the region, and in a months-long plan known as ’Operation Corndog", enacted a diversionary war games in the northern Miranda Plains with various armor and infantry forces, while their BattleMechs and select infantry forces moved into the region and swiftly surrounded a smuggler Danais-Class DropShip that was supplying the gathered military forces with arms and supplies. As a result, ELN support was devastated, and swiftly began engaging the national government in talks to officially surrender their support to the national government. Leading these discussions was Genral Quinto, the surviving leader of the organization.

By 3042, the territory was finally considered quelled, and ELN had been eliminated as a dangerous military force in the region.