The Skyranger rocketed across the African jungle, returning victorious from the recent mission. After accepting congratulations from the general and others at the base, the troops had settled down. The Skyranger was normally fairly cramped, but without the HWP inside the soldiers had plenty of room to stretch out. For most it was a good time for a nap.
Tyson walked over to where Kevin rested against the interior of the cabin, holding his side. Both had removed their helmets, and radio silence had occurred after the general's congratulations. They had some things to discuss.
"So, you think that The Contributors started all this?" Tyson started off after taking his seat by Kevin. They both spoke in hushed tones. "Well, I don't know. The thought just came to me a while ago, and it seemed to make sense."
Tyson stared at him like he was crazy. "You think The Contributors created the aliens? I mean, waging war against oneself is one thing, but creating an entire species, an entire advanced species, doesn't that just sound crazy?" Kevin just stared ahead. "I know. Yeah, that's the only farfetched part of it, though. We know that the contributors chose you, and us, to fight against the aliens. Why? Well, just because. But I've been doing some research. First, the first alien sightings just barely started. Only about...3 months before the start of X-COM. Now, if you were the aliens, wouldn't you just launch an attack on earth, and destroy her cities before you could be opposed? But not these aliens. No, despite their obvious superiority, they just move in small numbers. Maybe that's all they have, is small numbers. I know it sounds crazy but there are just too many unanswered questions...."
Kevin looked over at Tyson. Instead of what he expected, Tyson didn't seem to have the look of total incredulity. He just seemed shocked. "You know, I'd like to say that you've been playing too many video games," he said. "Starting to sound like you think The Contributors are some sort of all powerful force or something...." he trailed off, still thinking hard. Kevin started again. "I'm only thinking this because of you. Because they chose you. There has to be a reason beyond random luck that you just happened to line up as someone who would like to fight aliens. Even though it isn't true. It seems like this whole thing is a big setup, somehow you had to be involved in this. I don't know, you have any enemies to speak of?" Tyson shook his head. "I doubt that anyone who considered me their enemy would go to such lengths just to get back at me." He shook his head. "But there's something wierd. Something that makes me agree with you. Those aliens and their mind control...I think that I have some sort of connection with them. Almost like a weakness."
"Maybe. But I have no idea about mind control. I suppose whoever it is who is doing this is targeting you, because you are the reason for all of this."
"Yeah, that's likely the case. Did you get hit with any of those mind attacks?"
"I think so. I just focused, and it seemed to force them away. It wasn't as bad as yours were, I bet."
"I don't know. It is scary though........"
They waited for a few more minutes as the Skyranger flew onward. Jacque was sleeping sprawled on the floor, but she looked comfortable. Tyson took pride in how well everyone had done in the battle. Excluding himself, it seemed. "So, what do we do?" Tyson asked. Kevin had the answer ready: "We've got to investigate on our own. Everything at the base, every event, we've gotta look for suspicious things going on. And.....we need to capture a commander."
Ohhh, I am so tired. Hopefully one of these days I can get a job that helps me feel accomplished as well as all that other fun stuff I want to do. After a bit of an X-COM break, hopefully I can get back into it. At least on some days. I've got quite a healthy pile of cash at HQ....time to get a hot tub. I really feel like April is totally accomplished, as in I don't even need to go to work anymore. That's how it feels. But it pays to be diligent. I have four more troops on the way, to replace the fallen. A pile of laser rifles finish, so I think I'm gonna go with some more stun bombs. They are very useful. I'm researching UFO construction, followed by Hyperwave decoder. Once that's done, I should have more fights on my hands. I go about selling stuff. I like the Mind Probes. Pre-research they sell for 300K, afterwords only like 20K. So, yeah, they're not worth researching.
Four new rookies show up, let's go show them the ropes.
Cameron M. B-,R:53,54,25,10,52,58,52,36-Those reactions are fairly high. Upper class on others.
Kim Jong D,MS:58,65,26,20,40,44,75,20-Don't worry, I won't just use anti-Americans as my meaties..
Vern C-,G:57,67,28,50,51,45,52,34-Reactions are a high point, but not great.
Kaitlyn R. C,G:51,50,29,60,49,55,50,23-Average.
With that I just wait, though really I'm hoping for the end of the month. Hopefully some well deserved monies. A large UFO pops up, ugly thing. I-1 Chases it around Europe, I'm just waiting for it to land. It does, right on top of Big Ben. Terror Mission.
Oh, great. And without a HWP either...hmmmm. I've got a lot of space, and a lot of rookies to fill it. Trial by fire, I suppose. So, that's Tanner, NealTheFerrin, Hannah Banana, Devyn E. Ajay, Kaitlyn R. Taya A. Bree G. Courtney F. Carly Rawlins, BriAnne D. Reggillious, Brianna B. and lastly, Kim Jong. Wow, what a mouthful. Well, let's go. The rookies get mostly personal armor(even Kim), and the rest get the good stuff.
I've got way to much junk on this ship. But she's away, so here we go. On the way, UFO construction completes. Cool. Well, London is in sight. Time for these rookies to show what they've got!
If you had an S by your name, you probably got a plasma. About half did. Tanner has the rocket. This will be the first time that flying suits can be put to great use. And it's at night....not the best news so far.
And right of the ship some punk launches a bomb!!! Oh, stun bomb....whew, what a terrifying event that would have been.
Oh, boy. Well, that's a nice welcoming party. I wonder what snakemen are paired with in Terror attacks....and I don't like my wondering.
But Tanner has just the treat for the duo. Kabam! The rocket misses the "open" sign on the door, and blows up only one of the sankes. A series of reaction shots from the sheltered beast drops Tanner like a sack of potatoes. That went....not well.
Neal flies off the ship, covering to the south. He spies what looks like some sort of revenge of the grasshoppers down there. Nasty looking little thing. But his aerial stunts left him without the TUs for a shot. Hannah exits to the left, and is able to kill not only the snakeman(with a misclicked shot) but also the freaky menace before she's finished. Now to secure the area.
The ship is on the far north side of the map. So we get to unload in what I hope is relative peace. I try some re-stimming, but it doesn't seem to help much. I guess those two will be taking naps all the way home. I have to end the turn with little completed. And hopefully some dumb aliens who don't like potshots.
Ohhh, those snakemen make some gross snakey crawly sounds when they crawl about. Sick. Ajay has one who wandered out of a store in his sights. He nails it in the middle scales, and squishes its nasty innards across the yard. Hannah sees the other one to the south, and guns it down as well. The beast screeches loudly, to which I laugh. Ha.
Without a tank someone brave has to take the reigns. Neal heads southward, and Ajay moves east. He's got some sharp eyes, as he spies a snakeman through the window. He steps aside, not wanting to make it mad. I think I've got to worry about the nasty bug things.(hereafter called buggers) If they're Chrysallids...well, not good I've heard. Kaitlyn and Taya both disembark, and I decide that Flying suits don't work well when getting off the ship. The four remaining rookies and Carly stand near the exit. The two sleepers are left to their slumber.
The Skyranger flew across Europe, heading for London. Interceptor-1 had ben chasing the vessel for nearly 3 hours, when it flew into the city center. There was some light talk around the cabin, Neal was whispering to his sister, while Devyn was saying that he had always wanted to see London. Tanner was highest ranked, though both he and Neal shared in experience. There were also a batch of new rookies on the ship. They were all slightly nervous about the situation. Carly tried to be reassuring, but it was harder given the helmet that she was wearing.
Carly looked at her visual displays. Command had a direct link, so views shared amongst the team were co-ordinated at the HQ. HQ would assign shared views, so that soldiers in recon positions could relay that information directly to their teammates. Also, a constantly updated map rested in the lower right corner. Though that was only part of the displays they had been briefed on, those were all that were active now, the rest would come in handy during combat.
"Skyranger, you are nearing the landing zone," came the call from command. "Affirmative command, I'm setting her down." Carly pulled out a plasma rifle. The plasma was more deadly than the laser rifles, and it seemed easier to aim. Though both Neal and Tanner were likely commanding this mission, the link to command provided them with commanders from in the base.
The Skyranger hit the ground, and everyone stood up. They didn't have the traditional tank in front of them, so who knew what would happen as soon as that door dropped. The hatch slid open, and Tanner started out. Carly heard a soft thud, and a second later a purple wave rushed over the Skyranger's occupants. It gave a slight sense of tingling, which was washed away by a shiver from Carly. Then she felt fine. But Devyn fell to the ground. "Devyn? Devyn?!" Taya knelt down to examine him. "Unconscious."
"Command, we've got two down, stun bomb. Their just unconscious," Neal relayed as Tanner jumped to the ground. Courtney had collapsed as well. Carly could see Tanner's view pop up instantly. In front of him were two snakemen. He lowered his rocket and fired. It exploded on a wall, and Carly could see one of the aliens thrown down by the explosion. Then, through the smoke came three plasma bolts. One hit Tanner in the chest. He groaned, fell backwards, and all that could be seen was the underside of the Skyranger.
"Tanner's down! Let's get out there!" Neal was speaking to Hannah. They both jumped out, Hannah right where Tanner had been standing. Carly heard her fire, and a screech from the snakeman. "I see something out here. Looks like some sort of freaky bug." Carly glanced at Neal's view. It did definitely look like an insect. As she watched three more laser bolts flew past, one hitting the creature in the face. "I got him!" Hannah called back.
They tried to revive the soldiers who had fallen, but it didn't seem to help much. Bursts of laser fire could be heard from outside, as well as some screams. The rookies looked slightly more nervous hearing about the action. They were standing by the exit now, and Carly told them it would be fine, they would be taking up rear guarding positions behind the first recon soldiers. Kaitlyn had jumped off already, and then Neal called back. "Carly, you and the rookies take up rear positions, in case we need any cover out here. Then start heading towards the south. Watch out fo-----" a plasma burst was heard, and Neal coughed. "I'm hit..."
The snakeman shoots Neal, but he survives with no damage. I hear a civvie scream, and see another bugger near the snakeman on the east. Time to fry some bugs.
The bugger is just chillin, and I don't wanna give him an excuse to live. Neal hits him with all shots, very nice take down. Ajay tries to clear some walls, but they stand firm. I know the snakeman is behind there, and with a civvie so close, we've gotta take it down.
Kaitlyn can't get any closer, and I'm not going to risk the civvie life. Taya and Hannah both head south, as the west is clear also. The area is fairly lit up by the street lights, which is nice. Finally something useful done in these towns.
Carly takes a position on top of the Skyranger. I figure there are enough rooftops that she should be safe. The rookies file out, dignified-like.
Carly turned on her flying suit, and leapt into the air. The rookies rushing out behind her, she flew upward and landed on top of the Skyranger. The scene became a bit more real now. Neal had just fired on another bug creature. "Let's blow open these walls, see if we can see that snake!" Ajay obliged, and fired a few rounds into the structure. "I can't see it, I'm taking cover!" Kaitlyn moved over to cover near Ajay. As Carly scans the horizon. "I don't see anything from up here, the field looks mostly clear." "Watch your cover," was Neal's response. That was one problem with being up so high. While you could see everything, everything could see you. Carly looked down on the street in front of her. Just then plasma came flying out from inside the shop, hitting Neal and knocking him to the ground. "Neal!? Neal!?" there was no response, and her suit showed her that Neals vitals were reading null. "Neal's down, I'm going after the snake!" Ajay called.
From behind her came the sounds of plasma and laser fire. "Can anyone see it? I hit the thing but it won't die," Taya said. Carly turned around to the far side of the Skyranger, and her view nearly mirrored that of Taya's. "You are so dead..." she muttered, as she pulled the trigger and killed the creature. "What are those things anyway?" Hannah asked. "I don't know, but stay away from them."
Ahhh crap, this time Neal's down for good. The snakeman killer is still behind the wall. So I plan on killing them both.
Hannah found another Bugger heading for a civvie, she fires but misses. Taya hits it twice, but it still doesn't fall. Cursed mutated grasshoppers. With those two in the way....well, let's just say a shot could easily cook the wrong goose.
The rookies can't see it,(and I'm not letting them shoot anyway) but Carly is able to from her high perch. She gives it the final punch, and it finally dies. Now to the snakeman. Ajay's autos hit it twice, but it's a buff one. I try again, and this time it's down for good. What's that, Humans, 8, aliens, 2?
Ok, there's another snakeman by the Neal killer. Ajay guns down a wall, but needing experience, he let's Kaitlyn take the shot. She does like they say in basic training, point and shoot. It works, so another sankeman down.
Kim Jong moves to scouting position, and finds another one in the street. The rookies should have this. Brianna misses with her shots, but Reggillious moves into position and is able to take it down. Taya clears the walls of the warehouse, but doesn't see anything. I'm sure I saw another one there. Carly is now hiding on top of the warehouse. I think that most anything can see and shoot at you from below, which is unrealistic.
Not many reaction shot chances for most. We'll see how the turn goes.
"Ajay, how are you doing?" Carly had just flew over to the warehouse rooftop. "Doing well, we've got two snakes down over here, Kim's taking point."
"Ok, rookies, keep heading south, watch that line of houses."
Taya and Hannah were moving along the warehouse, and Carly was checking the southern street. "I think one's in front of the warehouse," Taya called up. "Everyone be careful."
Kim was pointing down the street. "I see him," Reggie said. Both he and Brianna started shooting, with one of the shots killing the beast. "Alright! Yeah!" Carly was figuring that they should almost be done by now. Most of the area was cleared.
"Uh, guys? There is something really nasty in that house...." Ajay trailed off. A view from his cam showed one bug....and what looked like a human...but green and bulging....
Oh, crap! Zombies! They are Crysallids. This could be a long fight..... A civvie got zombined, and the campers are chilling in a small house.
Crysallids cause the attacked target to turn into a zombie. Zombies turn into Crysallids when they die, or in three turns. Ok, just keep your distance. ut in terror missions the civilians become prime targets. Which then become more Crysallids and more targets. Luckily, they can't attack flying targets.
Kim chucks a proxy grenade by the door to the Crysallid house, I don't think that it will kill the beast in one explosion though. I don't have many other options. Taya kills the maneuvering snake, and I hope it's the last one.
I'm keeping everyone far from the edges of sight....this might get ugly. Crysallids have massive TUs, and they could easily infect anyone that doesn't see them soon enough. Bree moves to a rooftop as well. If you've got a flying suit, now would be the time to use it! Ajay slowly moves through the store. I still don't have all the south covered, but the Crysallids are moving! Gotta watch out.
"What did it do?" Ajay answered. "I don't know, it attacked that civilian, infested it or something. I'm not sure..." Then command, "Everyone watch your sides, no telling what those infested things can do. Don't get hit..." Carly was glad she was up here. But she had to keep an eye on those on the ground as well. Taya opened fire on the snake she saw before. "I think the street is clear, but we've gotta watch the southern houses." Carly moved up near the edge of the warehouse. It was a dangerous position, but the best for a quick cover fire if nessicary.
"Kim, see if you can through a proxy grenade by that house. Does anyone have a grenade?" Ajay was calling out. The house had at least one of the buggers in there, and an infested civilian. Grenades were likely the best way to go. The rookies continued heading south, though much slower now.
"I've got a grenade," Kaitlyn was saying as she hurried to Ajay's position. "Ok, we're gonna blow open a wall, and you toss that through there. Kim started shooting. The walls fell, but there were other appliances between them. Through the hole the bugger trots out, while the Zombie runs around inside. Kim fires again, this time hitting the zombie, and causing it to turn into the same thing as the first. "They turn into them??!" Kaitlyn threw her grenade at the open wall, but it fell short. It would still hit the first Bug though.
Brianna and Reggie both started shooting at another snakeman to the south. It fired back, one bolt brushing past Brianna's head. Hannah turned to look, and then shot the Snake dead where it stood. "Ha ha, go---" Hannah was suddenly cut off, as Carly heard more plasma fire.
I hear a series of explosions, not sure what they are. Perhaps a hatching, I can't say. The beasts are roaming about in the house, I'm not sure what to do. I doubt I could get a grenade in there. As long as it's all just Chrysallids, I think I can survive. Not so sure about the civvies, though. Ajay can see the alien, but a pole prevents him from killing it. Kim blows open the walls in front, hopefully Kaitlyn can toss a grenade in there. Brianna and Reggillious are both advancing slowly. Not having to worry about mind attacks is pretty nice, I must say.
The crysallid is coming out! And it seems like the infested one is making the racket. Which is strange. Kim kills the zombie, causing a fresh one to hatch. Kaitlyn throws her grenade, though the wall may prevent the second one from dying. Ajay hits it with a laser bolt, no kill. Ohhh, I'm scared! Brianna finds another snakeman. She fires, I think she hit, but I couldn't tell. It fires back, brushing both her and BriAnne.(odd name connection there)
She hits it again, but no avail. Reggie hits it too, and this is with plasma! What kind of snake is this? Hannah isn't afraid of snakes, and she kills it. With lasers. Hmm.
Holy crap again! Hannah takes a hit from some snake plasma, and now she's got a zombie(Crysallid when it dies!!) staring down her throat.
And that grenade? Well...yeah, I don't think the whole killing thing took place.(though it looks like it should have.) Maybe just knocked out.
Carly started to call out for Hannah, but the grenade explosion from across the way covered her voice. She blinked of the flash to hear Taya, "We've got a snake and a Zombie! Hannah, look out!" Carly looked down. Below her a Zombie was nearly on top of Hannah, who was slightly stunned by the plasma, but fine otherwise. Taya raised her rifle and shot the snakeman as Hannah ran out of the way. The Zombie growled. 'After it dies, it will turn into one of those things!' Carly thought. Hopefully Hannah could stay away from them! Taya turned to the Zombie and opened fire. One bullet broke the skin, and the inner creature began to emerge. Then a second bullet hit that one in the head, killing it.
"All clear over here!" Ajay called. That was echoed by the western group, and stillness came over the night.
Ajay kills the second, but no scream so it fainted. I'll be sure not to stand on them. Now, for the tricky part. First, Taya kills the snake. Easy. Hannah moves, and Taya first morphs, then kills, the Crysallid with the first two bullets. Wow. Easier done than said. Hoping that we're finished here, I end the turn.
Hmm, two deaths. And a heckload of plasma I should have saved! Bah! Didn't want to take any chances, though. And two living, Crysallids, I'm sure. Hannah gets MVP, with 4 kills and a Zombie handshake, she deserves it. Too bad about the losses though. The fad seems to be come off an injury and get killed. Bad news for Kevin.
Perhaps I should just get another tank. I guess it couldn't hurt. Not too bad, anyway. I figure I'll just wait until the end of the month. I know that this entry should be epic. Maybe it will by being so short. Well, on actual action, I guess.
Kevin had moved to the medical center after the Skyranger arrived, and Tyson spent quite a while down there. They had some speculations, though all seemed far fetched. Aliens running the system, or simply someone who had a connection with Tyson, they didn't know. They weren't sure what to do, or what they thought about the situation and The Contributors. But even if there speculations were wrong, they decided they needed more information. Tyson thought it best to simply ask the general, but Kevin thought that might give them away. Though he knew that was possible, Tyson decided that if he played it cool it would work out. He went ahead with his plan, even though he Kevin disagreed.
He entered the General's office. He hadn't spoken much to him since the base, though that was only a week ago. He decided to start off cordially.
"Hello, sir. May I have a word?"
"Of course, come in. You've done very well, you're an excellent commander."
"Thank you, sir. I don't want to take much of your time, but something has been bugging me. Who are The Contributors?" So much for beating around the bush. Oh well, directness tended to net results.
"The Contributors? I doubt that I know much more than you. They run the operation, they supply us with tactical data and ok nearly ever action that we do. We give information to them, they decide what to do, and they give it back."
"So, is it a code name for some big military hierarchy or is it a completely different organization..." He trailed off, and decided to let the general do his work.
"I don't think they're part of the military, besides, there responses to our requests are much faster than any military agency, I'm sure. They've almost made the project faster. I'm not sure who they are..." The general began to seem a bit more weary of speaking to him.
"Do they supply anything else? Research help, scouting observations, anything? Do the donating nations know anything about them?" The general didn't answer, so Tyson threw in the final question. "What connection do they have with me?"
The general didn't answer, instead he turned a glaring face to Tyson. "I believe that you've been told enough. The Contributors quite literally have your life and mine in their hands. I don't think you would want to offend them. I've already told you everything that I know and everything that I will. Perhaps you should take it up with them."
Tyson turned to leave, wondering perhaps if that were possible.
I start up on 5 more Flying Suits. In case of Crysallids, I guess. Lost one in the mission. But there are still 3 left. I didn't have enough armor for the extra four. So they got those old hand me downs.
What? only 600 grand added? for 2,000 points. The council of meagerly nations, sure. Hmm, well, it looked like my funds are the same. I might be paying out equally, though I really doubt that. Can't check the base info though, apparently there is a bug that makes it always give the wrong price. But the game takes out the right price. Go figure."So, no luck?" Tyson had just finished telling Kevin of the events with the general. The Contributors seemed like a bit more of a threat now than before. "I don't know, man. Maybe I was wrong thinking they caused the invasion and all that. But the one thing we do know is that they're after you for some reason."
"Yeah. But who would have the power and the brains to set it all up, as well as wanting to get me back?"
"Hmmmmm, Kory Brown?"
After a bit of a laugh, they decided that they would need to watch for any Contributor activity in the base, any clues, anything relating the invasion, the operation, and Tyson together.
I send I-1 down to inspect South Africa. A small UFO appears, in Siberia. Can't catch it, so I let it go. Well, I guess that's that for now. Tell me if you like them long or short. At least it's out faster.
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