In 1980, Admiral Edgardo Otero (formerly the notorious commander of the Navy Petty-Officers School of Mechanics, where hundreds of the 'disappeared' were tortured and executed), was the head of the navy's Antarctic operations and sought to repeat Operation "Sol" in South Georgia by establishing a military base (Operation "Alpha"). Admiral Lombardo feared that Operation "Alpha" would jeopardise the secret preparations for the Falkland landings, but Admiral Otero had close links to Admiral Anaya who approved Operation "Alpha" despite promising Admiral Lombardo he would cancel the operation.