Alright, starting off in the month of May now. I've worked up a healthy reserve of $7,262,899 from all the loot. Really, this game is more like pirates, just with aliens instead of His Majesty's vessels.
I'm hoping that Hyperwave decoders will be finished soon. That way, I will be able to find UFO's much faster and hopefully boost my funds, and likewise everything else. Also, it should speed up the commander capture that we've been hoping for. Once it comes the whole dialogue thing will likely die down a bit, at least for most smaller missions.
Research right now is only average, with 75 scientists on the job. I figure I will have to just wait. Also, X-COM USA is slowly being upgraded, though now it is little more than a listening post.
Right off two replacement troopers arrive:
Richie K. C,R:57,67,31,20,55,48,74,34-Reactions are good, but accuracy sucks.
Kristen O. C-,R:57,58,40,40,57,41,61,30-Ditto.
Well, good reactions for both, but accuracy...ouch. Either way I'm looking to get those who don't have many missions under their belts out there for the next ones.
Advanced armor is also low. As in we don't have that much. I put in an order for another HWP, as it might take a while for the whole Plasma tank design to formulate. Though I do like having a tank as a forward scout. Very much so.
Natalie was walking about the base called EuroCom, heading for the access lift in the early morning. She had been with the group since early March. Roughly two months had passed since she arrived. She had gotten used to life, and much more used to combat, after a multitude of missions in April.
She remembered one mission in particular. They had landed in a jungle, and advanced on a 3 story high UFO. She didn't know who had decided to send them on the attack, with a shortage of equipment and relatively little planing. That mission had gone horribly, though it was the first time that she had got to fight and take the lead. Afterwords the effects set in hard. As soon as the last alien was cleared, she had felt excited. But as they were gathering up the remaining supplies, she suddenly felt horrible about the losses they had suffered. She knew most of these soldiers, but not really well. But they were her friends, and now they were gone. The ride home had been very long. She had cried some, but by the end she was in a blank state of staring. After the nearly 6 hour flight, she returned to her quarters without speaking, and though she couldn't sleep she just lay on her bed.
That had been about a month ago now. Odd how old past cares had seemed to melt away, and how enjoying the time that they had became a priority. As well as survival. Everyone at the base bonded even closer together after the losses of April, and though tough they had advanced their tactics.
It was early morning. Kevin had asked her to meet him and a group at the access lift. He said that they were going running, but she sensed there was something else, as he had told her not to tell anyone. They were going to meet at six he said, but she was there and it was 5:50. She wondered what they were going to tell her. Earlier in the week they had told everyone in the squad about Tyson's connection to a mysterious group called The Contributors. Though she had overheard some talk, they hadn't said it officially. Tyson didn't have any idea why they had been sent to fight this war. Natalie wondered if anyone had the answers.
As she approached the lift she met with Jacque and Ajay. Both of them were much older than her. She had never met them before, but apparently they both knew Tyson. She greeted them, and asked if they knew what was going on. A few more joined the group, they were mainly those who were now promoted to a higher rank, about five in total. Chelsea arrived last, but there was still no sign of Tyson or Kevin. "Tyson told us to go ahead and start, that they would meet us along the cliff side."
They jogged along the side of the hill. the base was nestled along the side of a cliff. To the east you could move down the mountain and to the seashore. If you went west from the base you would move along a steep cliff. Otherwise the area was fairly barren and rocky. After a few minutes, the group arrived where they were told to wait. The sun was rising across the desert, and the waves were crashing along the rocks below.
"You ever think about home?" Natalie asked. She was standing by Chelsea, and though it was early spring, and early morning, the temperature was fine, and the Mediterranean looked beautiful in the sunrise. "Yeah. I never enjoyed any of this sort of thing. I wish I could be home right now. I don't know what has happened to my family, or anything." Natalie glanced over at her. "You know, it would seem like they would chose people without a family, who have dedicated their lives to conquest and fighting. But....they chose us." It was a question that all of them had. And there weren't any answers. Perhaps that was what Tyson and Kevin were going to tell them.
As the group sat about, wondering what sort of plan they were about to be let in on, or perhaps that they could go home, or at least write home, anything; they began talking about what their plans were before this whole catastrophe. It was odd to Natalie. While she knew that Tyson hadn't chosen this for all of them, the fact that he had caused the entire incident made her want to blame him for destroying her life. She felt bad about thinking that way. And it did make sense to her that the aliens would attack no matter what. And that could destroy more lives than just her own. But still, it was easy to blame in times of frustration. And thinking of their past lives amplified that feeling.
Shortly after, Tyson and Kevin both arrived. The group arose, and gathered around. "Guys, I'm glad you all could meet me out here," Tyson was saying. "Kevin and I have been talking this over, and we think that you all will be best to help us...." He trialed off. Natalie had no idea what he was talking about. For some reason she didn't feel in the mood for a pep talk about capturing aliens. The rest of the group seemed just as confused. "Guys, we've been thinking. About The Contributors. All we absolutely know about them is that they are the reason that Tyson and all of us are here. They run the whole operation, call all of the shots. I know that we really don't have any information, and that these aren't the best circumstances...but...well, we want to figure this out." Kevin had been saying this, picking up where Tyson left off. Natalie was wondering what they were talking about, though not extremely. She really didn't feel in the right circumstances.
Tyson and Kevin both seemed genuine though. They weren't going on a wild goose chase, or something to pass the time. Though given the circumstances, that might be the better thing for them all to do. Tyson started talking again. As the sun rose, both he and Kevin explained to them their thoughts about The Contributors, and how they needed to find out more about them. They said that they would need help to find out who they were, and that perhaps The Contributors would become more of a threat than the aliens. After explaining plans of constant observation, they were instructed not to tell anyone else, simply because having The Contributors suspicious could easily....well, they didn't want to think of the outcome.
After explaining their plan, the small group agreed to work on it. Natalie was as curious as anyone, and The Contributors...whoever they were, they were really the ones to blame for all of this. Not Tyson. They began to head back, it was shortly after 7:00 at the base. As they started off, everyone sticking together, Natalie ran up next to Tyson. "Hey, Tyson. Do you know anything about communicating with our families. Or what happened to them, what they've been told?" He shook his head. "I don't know. We've asked, but this project is so secret, we can't send any letters or anything at all. As far as I can tell, our disappearances were all covered up somehow. It's only been a few months for most people here, but I'm assuming they did something to cover it up." He didn't have much more of an answer. "So, no communications, then?" He shook his head. Natalie's mind started wandering again.There had been a number of losses during her time out here. Some she knew well were not only dead to society, but also dead in reality. She wondered what happened to their families. The Ferrin family had two members who had been dragged into this conflict, and now one was gone. "Do you think we'll find out who these Contributors are?" she asked.
"I hope so."
"They've done some horrible things. They've caused a lot of pain."
"And I don't plan on letting them get away with it."
Now, Hyper-wave decoder is complete! It will take a hefty 26 days to build, but I'm betting it is worth it. And I can scrap my other radars too. Ahh, it looks SWEET! Type of alien, UFO size, mission? Oh, yes! EuroCOM knocks out that small scrapper it's got and throws down a Hyperwave decoder. Yeah! X-COM USA is a bit more difficult, as I'm trying to design it with tactics in mind. But I figure(hope) it will be worth it, and scrap the radar there as well. So the base is blind, but only for a moment.
Yay! I'm not sure what will happen between now and then, but once those babies are done...it's gonna rock! I research plasma cannon, for the tanks, and I expect to get to alien craft afterward. Living quarters at USA finish, and I'm at odds as to add more to it or not. Interceptor-1 goes on a patrol mission to Siberia, but obviously nothing much to see there. I sell off some things, noticing my E-115 stores are down to 42. Hmm, not good. But I'm still excited about the whole thing. I build 5 more power suits after flying ones are done, which will leave me with only 1 unit of Elerium left. That's definitely not good.
Plasma Cannon finishes, and I realize it is for airplanes. Well, that's not what I figured. I start researching plasma defense, almost figuring that the X-COM forces are going to take a break and being totally satisfied with that. We've been working hard for 4 months. Then again that might not be the best plan. I decide to send out some patrols, though I don't have much faith in them. Though it is mostly research. Cold war, baby.
Plasma Defense is done. Looks nice, though I probably won't build any defense until later. (despite how that idea might be foolish) New fighter craft is my next endeavor. The days fly by, and soon the month is near over and the research is done. Yay, with the firestorm comes a plasma tank! Yes! I'll get on it as soon as...well, the other one is scrap.
And another yay! Hyper-wave decoder is finished! Let's test these bad boys out! And just when you thought we were going to be sleeping through the month, the ever popular terror attack...attacks. Some dinky town in the middle of nowhere. Probably more aliens there than there are humans, I'd bet. I've got quite the number of rookies on board, but there is some experience to back it up. Natalie C. Mary A. Chelsea W. Cameron M. Jacque A. Kaden Downs, Kim Jong, Zach S. Vern. I think it will go well, as we do have a tank. But remember what happened last time I overestimated. No matter. We'll do fine. The Skyranger races against the sun, and I hope we have as good a landing as we did last time. The comp crashes right as the Skyranger puts down! Oh, good thing I saved it right before that happened. Crashes plagued the first couple landings. And it changed every time, odd.
Natalie was dozing in the back of the Skyranger. They were headed for somewhere in Russia, a terror mission. Important, considering a hefty chunk of change from the country. She thought back over the last couple weeks. The group had been searching around the base, attempting to find out anything they could about the Contributor's influence. Obviously the basics were covered, but there were a few new developments. Primary communication came from linked computer systems, not by actual people who came to the base. Also, while the soldiers, particularly those with higher ranks, had influence over certain events, much of it was OK'd by them. They were fairly flexible, or at least it seemed. Or perhaps the soldiers were just choosing the same things that the Contributors would chose themselves.
There was one odd thing though. There was quite a hype about some sort of Hyperwave decoder. Natalie had wondered how they even knew what the aliens were saying. She had gone to one of the containment areas. She had asked the scientists how they had communicated with the aliens.
The two that were there were very excited about the whole thing. Apparently, early attempts hadn't netted much results. They had attempted brain scanners and other types of things to somehow communicate, or at least excrete, whatever information the aliens might have. Somehow, they said that they realized that the brain waves were much like computers. Slightly a mixture, they had said, but very binary and easily compatible with a simple computer. Natalie didn't quite get all of that, but she asked them how they had figured it out. They told her that about a third of the scientists there, all of whom made great progress in discovering this connection, had done some slight work for something called the 'ahseerip' project, codenamed 'The Turk.' The research done there had made their interrogations much easier.
Natalie asked around, trying to decipher what was meant by all off this. One scientist said that he had worked for the project, though it was very secret. He had only made AI, or attempted at creating a computer program that could write itself. The idea was that this would allow the computer to learn. That project had failed, and he said he left ACIRIP shortly after. That had been only a year ago. While it didn't really make much sense, Natalie did find it odd that the Contributors had found scientists who worked with computers to do work that would likely be left for biochemists or the like.
However, besides that event, little more had happened, in the quest for the Contributors or in the conflict against the aliens. There was rumors of a base transfer, but no one really knew for sure. Then, a call came in about an alien attack, and she had agreed to go, even though she really wasn't in line to.
Everyone get's mostly the same stuff. Primarily plasmas. I do enjoy the daylight, though flying may be unprofitable in such a setting. I've got a really nice landing, or so I believe. Top left corner, with a building limiting the possible attack routes. I move the tank to the edge, but I don't see anything and I decide not to move. Natalie and Cameron both take up defensive positions by the landing gear, and Mary punches through a hole into the second story. Perhaps I'll get some sniping. I move the rest up to unload fast, but I don't want to risk everyone in such a small area just yet. Not the best plan for civvies, but I came to stay alive, not save civvies. And due to recent crashes I'm saving every turn.
One Civvie's down due to plasma somewhere. The tank is leading this action. The tank moves forward, but I can't see anything at all. I'm guessing there are Snakemen, because Crysallids are built for terror attacks. Mary can see one from the window, but I can't apparently. Not much I can do but hope for bad aim. All of the fliers excluding Natalie are upstairs as well, the rest will have to fan out on the ground.
The Skyranger flew over the town once before landing. Natalie didn't have much of a view, and she was gathering her gear. She sat in the back of the Skyranger, just behind the new HWP. Likewise she was one of the first out. As the ramp dropped and the tank rolled off, Natalie cued on her flying suit. The improvements were made for instant co-ordination on the battle field. In the top left, a view screen that could be toggled. When an allied suit found an alien, small red arrows would appear on the sides of her vision, pointing at the targets. If an alien was in view, then a small box would encase it, helping in long distance situations. The screen up top would toggle to one of these indications and display the view of the spotter. A small map in the lower right would indicate all known positions on the battlefield.
The group had always worked really well together. The general idea was to advance together, always having another soldier there to back you up. They would fan out and cover a wide area, somewhat like the battles of the revolution. However, this formation allowed everyone to fire if an alien was spotted. The tank indicated that the immediate area was all clear, so Natalie moved out, hopping to the left.
She noticed a large building to the Skyranger's right. That would really help, she thought. No aliens as of yet, and she started following the tank up.
"Think we can shoot out of those upper story windows?" Mary asked. It was a good idea. They would have elevation as well as cover. "Go for it. I'm sticking here, but if you have a suit, head on up," Natalie called. The rookies were the only ones not in flight suits, they filed out behind her. "Jacque, you're in charge of the fliers. I'll take the rookies and we'll cover from here."
"Sounds like a plan, heading up." They still hadn't seen anything. Natalie was up by the front of the Skyranger, with the HWP moving forwards across a field, with a small bit of dust behind it.
"Snakeman, spotted." As the tank operator spoke, a small red box appeared in front of Natalie, she could slightly make out the Snakeman encased inside. She was about 60 meters away, and she wouldn't have been able to distinguish it from where she stood. She pointed her plasma gun and fired. The blasts flew downrange, but the red box remained. Huh, she must have missed. Three laser bolts flew past her across the field to her left. Kim had fired them, and she watched as the red box turned white, then disappeared. Just then she noticed a red arrow on her view.
She glanced at her map, noting Mary as the spotter. But almost as suddenly she heard plasma fire, and the red arrow vanished. Natalie looked back on the troops. Jill was just heading through the hole in the second story of the building, Cam and Vern were peeking through the windows. "We've got Snakemen, and that means Crysallids. Stay away from the corners, if one of them sees you, you won't have much chance." It was true. They had seen the Crysallids in the labs. They hadn't shown much on the first mission against them, but they could easily be very deadly. The flying group would have the best advantage here. Natalie turned forward to where the tank was heading down a street.
I spy a Snakeman, and I hear an infestation. Not good. Natalie takes a long shot at a Snake the tank spotted. She hits twice.(but no cigar) Kim decides to try his luck. He hits twice also, this time gets a cigar on the second shot. I've gotta watch the corners again, as Crysallids are very fast. Mary autos the alien I can't see, and kills a snake. Well, if it works.... I've got the rest out of the ship, and suppose that I'll start moving as the tank clears the area.
Natalie takes some of the longest shots in history, finally killing the Crysallid with the last of 7. The others cleared walls, so not a total loss. The upper group spots another Snake, and Jacque gets the honor this time. Mary clears the walls for another jump. I really like flying suits right now. Jill clears a few more for a second building.
Holy creepers, there are a lot of Crysallids down there! Good thing everyone's on the second floor. Jill kills one, and Mary moves out for a better look. She finds one snake, and Natalie attempts another long shot. It hits, and the snake is down. Zach wants to enter the contest. He fires across the map to hit another Crysallid the tank found. The tank finds another bugger by the first. But I can't hit it now. The tank should be able to see 20 spaces. If each space takes 4 TUs to cross, then the Crysallid can move a whopping 25 spaces. Assuming perfect AI, of course. I retreat but keep my sensors downrange. I want to move in the rookies though, at least into positions of shooting. Kim spies a Snake a ways away, but he fails to hit it. He succeeds in creating a wall of meat between everyone else and the snake though. Just trying to be positive. The rookies are peeking through the store windows, as I'd rather have them live than become Zombies. Better to let the second story secure the area.
The snake aims for revenge on Kim, but his fury ends up on a nearby telephone booth. I guess they still had those in 1999, didn't they? Given the situation, I let Kade take a whack at him. Kade has a rocket. So don't miss, buddy. By some miracle the rocket travels through the snake(to which he wipes his brow) and into the wall behind him. Which kills the snake. Oh well, either way works for me.
I send the tank back down to spy the Crysallid, and this time he brought a buddy along. Chelsea has a view, but Chelsea is no Natalie, and she misses each time. Mary flies over, and kills the Snakeman. Which is what I wanted, as they have the ranged attacks. Zach goes for another ranged shot on the Crysallid, and his aim is true as he brings it down as well. I guess this is the round of the snipers.
There's another plasma burst, and just as soon, the tank finds a Snakeman. Mary takes him down, and everyone starts dropping their clips. Perhaps I should send along some extra pistols.... I keep looking, and find another snake. I figure on saving ammo, and blow it with the tank. Then, a Crysallid walks out. Mary guns down that one as well. I keep moving forward, trying to clear the last corner of the map. Another Snakeman goes down to Mary. She has quite a number of kills today.
Great mission. No deaths at all. Totally awesome. Mary is getting MVP for probably tripling her kill count. Yeah, 5 kills. It's May 30, so I wait to see if my Hyperwave decoders are going to pick anything up. North America finds one. Ohh, infiltration mission. That's very bad. Could cost me some funding, that's for sure. The target was South America, but at the moment it's heading to the North. Well, either way I'm going to kill them. As usual the planes don't lead their targets. Sheesh. Anyhow, tracking is lost over the Pacific, heading for Russia. I assume EuroCOM will pick it up if it gets close. No idea what Brazil might be doing right now though. I-2 soars over to Tokyo, just in case. We need to guard the country that created Nintendo as best we can.
Natalie followed the tank, and started crossing the grassy area. From her left came the sounds of plasma fire. As the tank spotted aliens, Natalie would quickly take them down. She was in a great position, and couldn't be flanked. Zach came out and joined her a short while later. They helped the second story group and the tank as best they could from their positions. Natalie kept tabs on the rookies. The fliers were under Jacque, and they were quickly moving into other buildings judging from the comm chatter.
"Can we move in yet?" Vern was asking. They were stationed by some windows, looking through the store. Moving though could be very dangerous, and if the second story could pick off whoever was on the ground, that would be best. Natalie sighed. "Not yet, just keep an eye out. Have Kim move around the outside first. Once that's clear move in through the walls." "OK, Sergeant!" came the positive reply. Kim looked around the corner, and the red arrow flashed. Natalie switched to his view, and saw as he aimed at a Snakeman near the end of the structure. Kim fired, but when he lowered his rifle he didn't move "Cover, you need cover!" Natalie mumbled under her breath. Sure enough, the Snakeman turned and shot right at Kim, but the bullet intersected a phone booth, showering Kim with glass. As Kim lowered his arms, a rocket flew past, exploding directly behind the Snake and knocking it to the ground.
"Whoa, what's going on down there?" Mary called, "you nearly knocked the ground out from under us!" "Just a few more, I hope?" Natalie called back. "Yeah, looks pretty clear from up here. There's a house across the way though..." From behind Natalie heard Zach fire, and another red dot vanished. "Jacque, can you clear out whatever's left?" "Yeah, we've got a great view. See ya when we're done."
Natalie just waited for the next few minutes, as Jacque commanded the scene. She was outranked by Jacque. Shortly after, the battle was over, with no casualties at all. Natalie hadn't heard of a casualty free city mission, and she figured this was the first. A short while later, they loaded everything on the Skyranger and took off for home.
Oh boy, another one. Those hyperwave decoders certainly are doing their jobs. This time it's looking to set up a base. Well, I'm not fond of that idea right now, so he's going down. Floaters too, who wants to battle with those things? Funding pops up right as I see the UFO, and I see Brazil has some anti's in their midst.
I send I-1 into the Atlantic, and realize that there is no way I'll catch the craft. So I launch I-2 down to South America, though I doubt that they will be able to head it off. Either way, it will get shot down or I'll know where the base is. That would be fine with me.
Wow, that was fast. They must have been carrying a portable base in that UFO. I would hope for Sectoids, as they have mind powers. No matter, I'll have to finish these Floaters, and maybe get a boatload of cash from supply ships. And what is a small UFO doing on a terror mission? I guess they figure the 4 of them can take it.
As always, the Hyperwave decoders are going crazy with alien activity near the base. I-1 downs a small UFO, but I don't have a tank so I decide not to engage. I've gotta get ready for that base. And decide what to put in my own bases. I'm looking to increase USA quite a bit, so I might be getting 10 or so more soldiers next time.
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