Mega Primus needs you - Lets Play X-COM Apocalypse!

[Darkevilme]

Diary of Darkevilme:

Well it seems having put in an application for an infantry role i've been put in charge of this thing instead, not that i'm complaining a hundred tons of fighting machine is a wonderfully imposing seat from which to fight a war against these teacups and not only that but i've been given the important duty of defending our employers from harm. Now if only the gun on this thing wouldn't spill my drink when it fires things'd be splendid.

As for these cult of Sirius wrong'uns, i say we let that fellow Shep have a crack at them not that i'll be listened to most likely.

[Edi]

Edi's log:

Well, looks like the city defenses weren't all that they were cracked up to be, but at least I've now got a new job. Though I hope the next op turns out better than the last one. That was...embarrassing, but I'm just going to keep my mouth shut. As long as they don't drop the demolished buildings on me, I figure I'll be ahead.

Some of the guys are all gung-ho about being tank drivers or hovercraft pilots. Yeah, it's a relatively cushy job now, but if the history of the first alien invasions from the early days of X-Com are anything to go by, we've only seen scouts and probes so far. When the big shit hits the fan, they'll wish they were the ones doing the cleanup after the biggest dustclouds from the wreckage have settled...

[wautd]

Aah, Apocalypse, how all sequels should be. Gimme something that can do a lot of bangs and booms.

[Mr. Coffee]

How the fuck do I turn this on again? The red one, right? What?!

THIS FACILITY WILL SELF DESTRUCT IN 5 MINUTES

DUDE! YOU SAID THE RED BUTTON! ... Which one? There's like fifty fuckin' buttons here and at least half of them are red? Oh, this one...

SELF DESTRUCT SEQUENCE HALTED

Ok, fucking moron, which red button next? Right...

Ok, Coffee's log.. Heh... Uh, still waiting o get to shoot some goddamned aliens. Shep got to grease some, along with an old folks home and a baptist church. Closet I've gotten so far was an accidental discharge on the firing range where in Pedro the cleaning guy got his mop bucket fragged. It was pretty cool, but the new mop bucket is coming out of my pay. Seriously, what the hell's the goddamend point of being some super elite team alien killing death machines if we can't blow up some janitor's bucket every now and then.

On a completely unrelated note, some batch of alien loving scumbag tried to schmooze some money from the boss. Maybe he'll let me shoot those assholes...

Ok, how do I turn this off without blowing up then entire goddamned facility? I swear to God and Sonny Jesus if you say "press the red button" one more goddamned time...

[Karza]

Karza's log:

Yay, I actually got the assignment I wanted! I'm still slightly concerned this was just a reverse bureaucratic mishap and I'll eventually get reassigned to the kitchen or something. But for now, I've got a big gun and a roof above my head. I'll try not to fuck up the latter with the former.

Now if I only got to actually shoot at aliens. I thought I'd get my chance when a bunch of UFOs appeared in the sky, but they (along with a few city blocks) got so thoroughly blasted to bits by our pilots that the following ground op involved brooms and dustpans, not guns. Oh well. Maybe tomorrow.

[Gramzamber]

You know the problem I always had with Apocalypse is that for a supposed mega city, there was never enough traffic around.
A hovercar here and there, a few cops. If you ask me it should be like Coruscant up there. Granted, I suppose that was beyond the capabilities of the time.

Anyway, is it too late to volunteer for a suicide mission?

[OmegaChief]

It's never too late, and remember, with XCOM every mission is a sucide mission

[Nephtys]

It's never too late, and remember, with XCOM every mission is a sucide mission

Except this is the future! And even on superhuman difficulty, sheesh. The aliens are pretty underwhelming except for one very particular type. I'm sad that I couldn't mod the standard Anthropods to carry heavier weaponry in the early stages. I suppose that's a valid criticism of apoc. Your forces actually start off reasonably decently armed. But it's not the armed combat that gets you, unlike UFO Defense or especially bloody TFTD. It's the stupid alien Master Plan. Or gang members. I think they marry their rocket launchers.

Also fun-fact, screenshots are difficult for capturing all those tiny bullets. They're barely noticible!

---

Also to Shep and people who want to mod their game, I recommend 3 utilities. I used to have more, but half don't work even in DOSBOX.

1. Mexcomap - Midnight Map Editor, this lets you customize the city's layout as well as alter all aspects of the savegame. You can also reinsert some old weapons, but not all of them fully work. (Though I was surprised the Tracker gun worked).
2. Overkill - Weapon and vehicle stat editor
Get them from http://www.devisraad.com/xcom/apoc.htm

and

3. Roadwars Mod - This mod increases the armor value of the roads and allows some various tweaks.
http://www.strategycore.co.uk/files/index.php?dlid=758

[MKSheppard]

So Neph, mind putting forth the statistics of your modded ground weapons? I mean, the Rumble Cannon is obviously very very much more powerful.

[Nephtys]

So Neph, mind putting forth the statistics of your modded ground weapons? I mean, the Rumble Cannon is obviously very very much more powerful.

That's actually the stock rumble cannon. It's that strong. The Roadwar mod makes the turret on the tank 360 and able to track airborne targets easier, and adds a coaxial 40mm autocannon. Against buildings it tends to do a lot of damage since it's output is more than the Lineage Plasma Cannon, and it strikes from low angles, making it more likely to destroy critical sections of structure in the foundation. Against UFOs, it's usually going to strike their under armor, which is the lowest, thus causing more damage.

As to the edits, I upped the damage on the alien infantry beam weapons. Only medium ufo weapons can damage ground tiles. Also, the 'strategic' missiles like the MegaPol Justice system, and the MarSec Retribution system are MIRVs to make up for being single shot.

[Mutant Headcrab]

Holy crap! My apologies for doubting the awesomeness of tanks! I might have to give this mod a try myself.

[Nephtys]

Today's Installment: Fusion is a safe power source, right?

Wednesday, March 8, 2084
Status Update, Col. Nephtys, X-COM Intelligence

Before I get too sidetracked today, time for some good news. Preliminary research has been completed on a few things.


First, our scientists have empirically restated the obvious. The aliens travel through these dimension gates from some unknown location. All attempts to send anything back through have ended in failure. We will need to determine what allows the Aliens to traverse the dimension gates safely. To do this, we're going to need to capture an intact UFO and learn it's secrets.

And now the bad news.


This is our captured Type-2 UFO extracted from the Megatribe Warriors GravBall stadium. Although this craft is larger than any air vehicle in our current inventory, it appears to be a simple scout ship based on preliminary examinations. It's hull is very strange. It appears almost organic, despite all assurances from reasonable scientists that organic technology is 'retarded'. The entire interior was destroyed by a self-destruct device, leaving very little of use.

We've also fitted 'The Welcoming Committee' with a miniaturized alien containment unit. With the latest in stasis devices, we should be able to transport alien biomatter back to the base safely now. Which was rather important, considering the events starting at 1430 hours, March 8.


Alien sighting at the south Dimension Gate, which appears to have shifted position slightly since the last incursion. It has moved several hundred meters closer to the city. Two Type-2 UFOs and a single Type-1 emerged.



Our brave Tank Corps moved to intercept from their ambush positions. Guppyshark's Griffon AFV was on station immediately and managed to destroy one of the Type-2 craft. The other, seemingly deterred by such a surprising hail of fire immediately after transit, flew over the spaceport. Unable to pursue, the craft evaded our defense grid into a blind spot. The Type-1 was shot down as it attempted to follow it's heavier consort. Our Phoenix Hovercar squadrons scrambled to intercept.



Too late.

The Alien craft engaged it's transport beam at approximately 1430 hours, depositing alien forces right into the city's primary power plant. If the city loses power, it would mean extensive delays in Marsec's weapon production as well as all sorts of economic disruption. The aliens must be stopped. The Welcoming Committee and her squadron of Hovercars finished off the UFO before it could escape, but the response team prepared to touch down at the powerplant.



Meanwhile, we were not doing well chasing two other alien craft. They came from the north Dimension Gates, both of which shifted some several hundred meters before disgorging the aliens. It was apparently a diversionary attack, to confuse our air defense and allow their agents to infiltrate the power plant at the opposite side of the city.

Shep meanwhile, seems to have missed rather dramatically and hit one of the few remaining structures in the Eden Gardens Appartment complex. Won't those people ever get a break?



Phred contributed by blowing up the north wing of a Sanctuary Gardens procreation park. For those who are reading this in the off-world colonies, Procreation Parks are specialized clinics where babies are developed in artificial wombs to eliminate hereditary diseases and genetic defects. They're decorated with open spaces, bushes and trees as well.

Phred seems to have developed an unseemly habit of destroying parts of medical facilities. I have recommended that Command transfer him immediately somewhere safer for deployment. Perhaps near the gang controlled slums...

Nonetheless, our combined air defense destroyed the remaining UFOs before they could successfully escape.

---

Well, with the alien UFOs defeated, Xenocide Central's main response squad landed at the power plant. Teams A through D were deployed to search and destroy any alien lifeforms they may encounter, as well as safeguarding civilian lives. I will begin the video log here, and make notes as necessary. My commentary will be in itallics.

---


Forcelord and Acidburns were first on site, with others approaching from multiple entryways.
Acidburns: There sure are a lot of turbines here.
Forcelord: Whatever. Just don't die. They're taking your life insurance out of my paycheque.


Team C, Heavy Weapons section found the first alien, standing on top of a high catwalk. It appeared to be some sort of blue humanoid that we have never encountered before. It was clear now that we faced a new, unknown threat.
Karza: ...the hell is that?
Omegachief: Bloody 'ell if I know. Looks like a bleedin' mascot.


Mr.Coffee initiated first contact by missing him narrowly with a high explosive shell from his autocannon.
Mr. Coffee: (unintelligble sounds of frothing battle rage)


The Alien lifted what appeared to be a rifle of some kind. It fired a heavy projectile, causing everyone to dive for cover in case it was a grenade. The object missed however, instead sprouting a small, agile orange creature reminescent of an uncooked chicken. As far as I can tell, it jumped for Mr.Coffee's head and attempted to copulate with it.
Mr.Coffee: (frothing battle ra---)--wttfghghouaguhg
Omegachief: It's squirting something into 'is throat! Bloody disgustin' mate!
Karza: Coffee!?!


The alien organism then seemed to shriven and die as Mr.Coffee threw up right on the spot. He recovered slowly, hacking and caughing, but appeared to be okay.
Mr.Coffee: Ohfuckinghell, don't you EVER do that to me again, you alien ba---(resume unintelligble frothing battle rage)
Karza: ....mmmkay, right. I'm going to forget I ever saw that. Anyway, we've got aliens to kill!


A hail of high explosive fire blows up most of the catwalk the alien was standing upon, as well as killing the creature. These aliens our scientists dubbed 'anthropods' based on their humanoid shape seem a little less armored than one of our troopers. A relief, given the horrors of Lobstermen in the second alien war.
Karza: Ka-BOOOM!

---


Meanwhile, Sniper Team B was covering the central part of the powerplant. One of the orange aliens fell from an airduct, and creeped up behind Vanas.


Edi was on his guard however, and riddled the body with lead. This type of alien appeared weak and frail, as an unarmored chicken would be. A single round connected and caused it to die.
Edi: Hah! I got one! I got one!
Vanas (not even turning): Shh. Trying to snipe here.


Another one of the creatures appeared suddenly, scampering across the floor quickly towards Edi! His machine gun spat out bullets in response, missing the rapidly approaching alien until it was just a pace away, killing the creature.

---


Team A's White Haven and Stark charged into an elevator, only to find a monstrous creature. It resembled a large green worm with massive teeth. White Haven screamed something ridiculous, firing into it on full auto with his laser rifle. Despite the massive firepower, the creature was still moving until Stark jumped down and grabbed it's slitering hide, shocking it repeatedly with his stun grapple.
White Haven: FRACK THIS FELGERCARB! WHAT'S THAT?! *zap zap zap*
Stark: What the fuck is this? (BZZZT)

---


A sickening spray of corrosive slime shot right past the ironically named Acidburns' face.
Acidburns: Ho-ley shit, what was that?!


With Acidburns armed only with non-lethan peashooters, Forcelord jumped in and encountered another unknown alien. It was pink, naked and humanoid. Instead of a head, it had a long straw-like funnel atop it's shoulders, oozing with the acidic substance. Forcelord responded by gunning it down in a hail of lead, then quipping a one-liner.
Forcelord: Don't lose your... head?


Acidburns and Forcelord spotted the outline of another pink figure disappearing into a Gravlift, and stacked up against the lift after it. Seconds later, they raced down the lift in pursuit.


Acidburns and Forcelord arrived at the base of the lift, spotting a pair of the vile creatures. Filled with rage, Acidburns seems to have forgotten his standing orders to take aliens alive, and set the pair on fire with an incindiary grenade. Forcelord stormed in after, and the pair of them opened fire. The two aliens, confused and ablaze, fell to the sweeping machine gun and lawpistol bullets.
Acidburns: *helmet-muffled pyromaniac laughter*
Forcelord: Riddle me this, xenos! (ratta-tatta-tatt)


Vanas ran in from around the fire, locating an alien acting strangely. It's hands were in the air, waving them around in apparent panic. It made no attempt to attack or flee, only running in circles.


Vanas gave the panicked creature a fine display of X-COM Compassion with his laser rifle.

---

Meanwhile, Team B's heavy weapons charged into the basement after strange noises. There were at least two aliens down there, reported Kryten who spotted some movement through his sniper scope.


Karza encountered one of the naked pink 'spitters' point blank upon coming out of the lift. With a civilian too close for comfort, he swipped his selector to load AP bullets into the autocannon, placing several slugs into the creature's chest.
Karza: What's with these freakshow aliens? Die! Coffee, Chief! Get down here!
Coffee: (RAGE)
Omegachief: There's one over there! I'll gas it!


The large alien worm seemed unfazed by a cloud of noxious stun gas. A nearby civilian flopped over unconscious, and the massive creature slithered away. Karza and Coffee ran in pursuit. Karza swapped his autocannon back to High Explosive, spraying the area with rounds.

One of the shells landed straight into a nearby civilian's head, which exploded into a fine red mist. However, upon death of the green alien worm, four smaller pink worms jumped out, slithering about with sharp pointed teeth! Omegachief threw a grenade over onto the civilian's corpse, creating a massive explosion that instantly creamated the civilian's corpse, and killing the remaining alien worms.

---



Mission accomplished.
Sweeps afterwards confirmed that we destroyed all active aliens. Decontamination and recovery teams also located three purple alien 'eggs', that appeared to have a similar acid-nozzle to the aliens nicknamed 'spitters' by our troops. All alien biomatter and weaponry were successfully recovered and sent back to base.

Several of our troopers are now squaddies for their role in the confirmed kill of at least one alien. Due to Omegachief's actions in concealing the death of a civilian by blowing up its corpse (and 4 'multiworms'), he has been promoted to Squad Leader.

Mr.Coffee has been sent to quarentine after his close encounter with the orange alien creature. While amusing, we took his decontamination very seriously. Still, Mr.Coffee seems to have made a full recovery with no apparent abnormalities. He has returned to active duty, despite being on the butt end of a great deal of rather immature jokes.

Overall, a good haul. We have our first victory over the aliens without civilian casualties recorded civilian casualties.

LOG TERMINATED

[Nephtys]

As something to mention about that last update... wow, to actually show everything I want, I'm going to need to use a lot more animated gifs from now on. That last update had 4 of 'em.

[Ford Prefect]

That's a nice birthday present, guys. Also, the animated .gifs are cool, Neph. Real professional.

[Nephtys]

Also, WTF?! I didn't know The Welcoming Committee was also the name of Guavamoment's Valkyrie. What the hell, and I was thinking that was being cute. We need a new name, pronto.

[born in shadow]

Heh heh I love it. I never played the X-COM games, but this is a riot

Sign me up on capture duty!

[Ford Prefect]

We need a new name, pronto.

Can we call it the 'Hilton Grand' or something?

[Vanas]

Vanas' Log:

Laser rifle's pretty good. Would like to see someone saw something in half with a normal sniper rifle. Was, however, unable to test at range owing to inopportune distractions.

Note to self: Possibility of acquiring 'Rumble Cannon' to keep in van for unforseen circumstances?

[Force Lord]

Forcelord's log:

Why do I have to pay for Acidburns's life insurance? I mean, can't he pay it himself? Things like these make me wish for Universal health-care.

As an aside, I think Acidburns has an unhealthy obsession with fire, disobeying our goddamm orders, even! I hope he doesn't get hurt, because then I'm the one having to haul his ass to the infirmary.

[RecklessPrudence]

So, when I join, am I going to have signed up to defend the city, or blow it up? 'Cause really, given past X-COM's track record, to say nothing of this one's impressive collateral damage count for how briefly it's been operating, either way works.

[Mr. Coffee]

Yeah, yeah, asshole. I know which red button it is, so fuck off already.

Coffee's Log Entry #2

Ok, so today I finally got to shoot some at some fucking aliens, and this time I mean actual ETs and not Pedro from Facility Services. Everything was going pretty damned easy too...

That was when one of those zeno fuckholsters decided to try and mate when my head. Dog's hump people's legs, alien larva try to fuck you through the nose hole or some shit. Luckily I'm so goddamned AWESOME that I was able to cuss the fucking thing to death. I swear to God and Sonny Jesus that some days this job is more ate up the cock sandwich at Village People concert.

So yeah, got to kill aliens and break their shit at least.

P.S. Very funny, assholes. When I find out which one of your tried to strangle me with a day-glow orange rubber chicken I'm gonna staple Spock ears to you dick and tell the boss you're a retarded Martian.

[Hawkwings]

17 live aliens captured? 17?!?!? Someone needs to be held accountable for this horrific display of xeno-loving tendencies!

[JonB]

We have infiltrators from the Cult of Sirius among us! Purge them! Purge their xeno-loving building from the face of our mighty Mega-Primus!

[Karza]

Karza's log:

So, the first ground op is over and naturally we won! Didn't even suffer any casualties, apart from Coffee's dignity and some civvie who stood a bit too close to a bunch of worms I was hosing with HE ammo. Chief incinerated the evidence though, so I should be good. Owe a beer to him. Can't really see what the fuss was about though, considering our pilots have blown up half the city by now. One death is a tragedy, a million a statistic?

Anyway, off to grab a bite to eat. Also, I'm sure Coffee will really appreciate this new "losing your virginity" joke I came up with. I'm sure he hasn't heard too many of those yet.

[OmegaChief]

Omegachiefs Log:

Well that went well, High Explosive ammo and Fire really can kill anything even if it's from another dimension.

Command approves of my initiative it seems, they gave me a hat with a shiny squad leader badge on it and everything, hmmm perhaps I should requisition a flamethrower for Acidburns...

Anyway, no time for logs now, have to go and hide more rubber chickens in the air ducks for tomorrows surprise training exercise.