After the disastrous invasion of Seattle in the Fall of 1989, the Soviet Union expanded its forces into the surrounding countryside of Washington. In their efforts to expand their territories, they moved quickly to seize several key towns and positions to strengthen their control in the state, setting up local command and communications outposts in local civilian centers. Among the many towns seized during the invasion was Clearwater Creek near the Rocky Mountains. Like many other towns surrounding the Seattle metropolitan area, Clearwater Creek became a key outpost of the Soviet defensive perimeter surrounding the city, with its population forced to submit to Soviet control.