Thursday, March 23, 2084
Status Update, Col. Nephtys, X-COM Intelligence
Yesterday, Omega Team successfully raided a cultist temple using Sanguinus Terra's IFF transponder. We captured a cultist and have interrogated him regarding what he knew about the Psi-Clone implant, and what the cult was doing with them. As we had hypothesized, the Cult was using these illegal mind-altering devices to brainwash and indoctrinate new recruits. He denied any role in attacking our agents, nor did he admit to transferring weapons to the aliens, such as the Lawpistol found on that dead Anthropod. Unfortunately, we did not get much usable info. The subject did not survive interrogation. We will need to capture and interrogate a Cultist Commander to learn more later.
I meanwhile, may have to go with The Yosemite Bear to a... diplomatic... appointment with leaders of the Psyke Gang, the illegal criminal Syndicate that first developed the Psi-Clone implant with a renegade MarSec scientist. They may be our only lead to the nature of the civilian that got Torben brainsucked. But that's something for the future.
Back to immediate concerns. The aliens returned today, flying an unknown type of UFO. It looks like no other UFO they've yet deployed, being a tall cylinder. It was slow, but had shielding and weapons off the scale of anything we've yet encountered. It was escorted by a Type-3 UFO and two Type-2s, all of which have been observed previously to act as alien transports.
Sanguinus Terra and The Ambassador intercepted the new UFO as it blew through our ground defenses, outpacing them and destroying both a Wolfhound APC and Stormdog with it's powerful disruptor beams. Fortunately, our two prime aircraft are now equipped with the fearsome Lineage Plasma Cannon, the most powerful human directed energy weapon yet cleared for atmospheric usage. Even with Lineage Plasma Cannons and the assistance of two brave MegaPol Hovercars, Sanguinus Terra was heavilly damaged before the alien saucer crashed into the deregulated zones near a Psyke Syndicate controlled slum.
While we were busy with the main alien ship, the Type-3 transported aliens into the Karpov Building, headquarters of the Synthmesh corporation. Synthmesh produces a broad range of consumer goods. Every household has dozens of Synthmesh products, and they are one of the city's leading employers. The Ambassador was dispatched with Alpha Team to stop the aliens before they could brainsuck Synthmesh personel or spread further into the city. The Type-3 managed to evade our defenses and escape back to a dimension gate.
---
At Synthmesh HQ, Alpha Squad sighted a large anthropod force while making a landing approach. They were largely equipped with Disruptor Guns.
Karza and Mr.Coffee introduced these aliens to hails of high-explosive fire, ambushing them from around a corner while they were packed in tight.
Karza: I see 'em! Light em up!
MrCoffee: REMEMBER ME, ALIEN FU*Frothing Battle Rage*[/i]
Netko flew over from another direction with his new Marsec flying units, spotting for SirNitram to lay down a hail of missiles into additional Anthropods. From his vantage, he strafed the helpless Multiworms with disruptor fire. Stark assisted with his plasma pistol and flying unit, until each of the aliens were destroyed.
[/i]Narkis: Enemy squad, two-o-clock! Nail em!
SirNitram: WITTY REMARK. *frwoosh*
Netko: *whistles* Those are some good explosions!
Mr.Coffee and Karza continued their bombardment of the Anthropods. Several stray shells hit nearby civilians of course. But we cannot rule out that these 'civilians' were in fact, alien collaborators or brainsucked infiltrators. Just to be safe, any civilian in direct contact with the aliens was decontaminated using high explosive.
Karza: Shit! There's civilians all over the place over the hill!
MrCoffee: Goddamned Alien-lovers!
Karza: Hold f---
MrCoffee: *FROTHING BATTLE RAGE*
Karza: ... Autocannon Squad to Command, Alien um... sympathizers, neutralized.
Mission Accomplished. The tactical flexibility of MarSec flying armor and the mini-launcher with proper scouting has been established. We believe no aliens escaped the premise, and have been conduction bio-screening of any Synthmesh employees that may have had contact with the aliens just in case.
---
Meanwhile, Omega Squad had the harder assignment: Tackling the largest UFO yet encountered by an earthside X-COM Squad.
The Type-4 UFO was smaller in diameter than a Type-3, but a whopping nine stories tall. Batteries of massive disruptor cannons lined each side. We had no idea what to expect.
As the team gathered around to prepare to breach through an entryway near the bottom of the craft, a yellow skeletal-looking alien floated away to cover before it could be caught. This new alien was humanoid, much like the anthropods and was sighted to carry a disruptor gun. Could this be the race behind the alien intelligence?
Tasoth: The hell was that thing?
Narkis: Looks like a... flying skeleton.
Dave: Like a Sectoid that's a Skeleton. A Skeletoid!
Narkis: That's not funny!
Omega stacked up about the doorway in dispersed formation, ready to breach and to fry any Popper or Brainsucker that tried to get the jump on us.
CaiusWickersham: Praise the Emperor! None shall penetrate our overwatch, brothers!
RecklessPrudence: IN POSITION. ALL SECTORS COVERED. READY TO PROCEED.
Point Unit lead the breach. Covenant opened the door and immediately gunned down a confused Anthropod right in front of him with his plasma gun, then two of the yellow Skeletal aliens as well before ducking back to cover. Tasoth ran in and blasted a Brainsucker, opening the team's access to the main grav-shaft.
Covenant: TARGETS ACQUIRED! EAT HOT PLASMA, SPACE ROACH!
Tasoth: That's my line, robot! *pew pew!*
MutantHeadcrab: Let's move!
Once we breached the grav-lift, the team stopped by the first floor. Multiple aliens were waiting for us in ambush positions. Cpl Kendall spotted several and gunned down a large swathe of Brainsuckers at medium range. Rookie Wautd used his mini-launcher's HE rounds to great effect, detonating two Poppers and a Spitter.
Wautd: Hah! How's it feel to be on the recieving end of those?!
Tasoth unfortunately lost consciousness in our own stun gas, due to weird duct and ventilation in the alien ship. Covenant took point again, and grenaded several Anthropods and a brainsucker overwatching the main lift shaft.
Covenant: THANK YOU FOR STANDING STILL!
Vendetta supported Covenant's breach by laying fire into a popper, destroying it and causing a great secondary explosion that got a nearby anthropod. He continued his inhumanly accurate rampage up to the overhanging floor, destroying another alien.
Vendetta: COVENANT, TARGET RIGHT! SWEEPING FLOOR!
Gramzamber: Holy m--- These robots are kicking ass!
JonB: Tell me about it. Ugh, this Psi-amp is goddamned useless!
CplKendall: FLOOR CLEAR. ALL HOSTILES TERMINATED.
Both upper floors were cleared with little additional excitement, although our initial examination of the interior notes that the ship is armed to the teeth and armored like a tank. The vacant core allows a great deal of cargo or assault troops to be easily transported. This ship is likely an alternative to the Type-3 Transporter as a slower, but more powerful assault transport. Rookie Consequences, and RecklessPrudence at least distinguished themselves by destroying a lone panicking spitter, and blowing up unhatched Brainsucker pods before they could attack the team.
Mission accomplished. No losses, and a largely intact UFO. It seems that the aliens were trying to ambush us at the grav-lift, but the quick actions of our point team and increasing ranks of android soldiers suckerpunched them before they were ready. Analysis will begin immediately on this new UFO.
---
Although we appear to be winning all the battles so far, there's so many new mysteries raised by each victory.
What is the true alien plan for Mega-Primus and Earth?
Why did the Technocrat Office Worker attack us with a brainsucker pod?
What is the source of the unknown alien intelligence?
What role does the cult play in all of this?
Before I go on my diplomatic mission with The Yosemite Bear's MiB Division, there's also been some... ethical... questions raised by our biochemists. It seems that the alien life forms go through a very specific lifecycle, with certain peculiarities not found in terrestrial lifeforms. This leads to many possible research opportunities for new weapons tailored toward the alien threat. But still, many of our scientists are hesitant due to the nature of what could be done...
It would seem that we have a bit of a humanitarian decision to make. I can only hope that Command makes the right choice.
LOG TERMINATED
