[Let's Play] UFO: Alien Invasion

[White Haven]

Cyberdyne? How...plebean.



I still function!

[Agent Sorchus]

Two hours after Firebird returns
The door opens on the mess hall as two men in black claim Sorchus' corpse. In walked his replacement, another in the same vein, with the agency approved codename Sorchus. After all the Agency protected it's own and had a long memory. His sacrifice would not be forgotten.

The others in the Mess-hall asked themselves for the first time, is it weirder to revive someone as a cyborg or to have a faceless duplicate come in within hours of your death.

[FaxModem1]

Fax Modem looked at the casualty reports on his desk. He scheduled a meeting with the Acting director. This had gone far enough.

Fax Modem prepared some documents in case of his not returning. He put them into the tubes.

[Edi]

Edi's will:

"In case of death, do not revive as cyborg unless necessary for continued Phalanx survival. In case of revival, do not turn off emotional response."

*signature*

*scrawled by hand in the margins in the same handwriting as the signature*
"I still can't believe I'm doing this. I really don't. On balance, *some* kind of life is better than non-existence. Fuck."

[JonB]

The Acting Director pressed a button beside his phone. "Tell Mr. Modem that he can see me at his earliest convenience."

[FaxModem1]

"Acting Director, nice to see you."

Fax Modem shut the door.

"Now what the hell do you think you're doing?"

He laid a few folders on the director's desk.

"Five. Five deaths, and we have nothing to show for it. Practically the entire base requested body armor and you ignored it. I understand you're our CO, but I imagine a few of the people in these folders would still be walking without a mechanical upgrade. But unless you're deciding to disobey their last wills and testaments, we're still down at least one man."

He sat in the chair opposite the Acting director, waiting for the reply.

[PeZook]

TACTICAL ANALYSIS PENDING

...

MISSION RESULTS WITHIN ACCEPTABLE PARAMETERS

HUMAN CASUALTIES NEGLIBLE. ORGANICS EASILY REPLACEABLE.

Code: Select all

WARNING WARNING

SABOTAGE DETECTED

EMOTIONAL RESPONSE ACTIVE

INITIATING PURGE OF PERSONALITY MATRIX

...

PURGE COMPLETE

[SirNitram]

"Interesting. You had your personality and emotional simulators removed." The Cyberdyne unit was being studied, as Nitram worked on the grim task of bringing those who fell in battle back. "Yet your analysis starts going off when you contemplate the deaths of partners. If I wasn't busy, I'd want to take a good look in your head.'

[PeZook]

WHY AM I MALFUNCTIONING, SCIENTIFIC MEAT-UNIT?

WHY?

[HMS Sophia]

Barnest2 is... pleased. Two new kills. Lots of flying. I must Get the technicians to paint the kills on my bird... on me...

* Message to SirNitram*
Is their some way of patching me into the base comms? I would like to talk again.
*End message*

[Hawkwings]

Good news: didn't die.
Bad news: two friends turned into plasma paste in front of me.

This calls for drinking. And body armor.

[FaxModem1]

Fax Modem activated the security monitors in the Director's office, showing the effects were having on PHALANX personnel.

"See what I mean?"

[Force Lord]

Force Lord's Log:

"Grrrr. If we take this rate of casualties for too long, we'll be too short of manpower to retaliate. Of course, a dead guy can always come back as a machine, but I doubt the average grunt wants to end up like that. I just placed a request for body armor for me and my squad. Hopefully Ordnance fufills its end of the bargain."

[JonB]

I just wanted to let you guys know, OOC, that everyone is already wearing Body Armor. It's not a lot, but when it takes three hits to kill someone instead of 2, it still helps.

New Body Armor will take some time, and given the latest, I'll jump into researching that once Vehicle Lasers are done.

[FaxModem1]

OOC, that's fine. I'm just acting in character and wanted to have a in-character discussion with the Acting Director.

[JonB]

OOC; That's quite alright. I realize now that I didn't list Armor when I gave everyone gear, and so people may have assumed that I skimped on it. Trust me, I didn't. I just assumed that it was so vital I didn't need to list it 16 times. I don't want to kill you all yet.

[JonB]

(ghetto edit!)

The Acting Director glanced down at the folders, and then back up at FaxModem, as if he already knew what the folders contained. "It seems there has been something of a misunderstanding," he says with a sigh, his eyes unreadable behind the reflective glare of his glasses. "We have already supplied you all with some of the very best body armor the world's militaries can provide. Of course against the firepower our opponents wield, it may not be entirely effective, but I would have thought it would be better than nothing."

He shruged. "When I began receiving requests for body armor research, I assumed you all were insisting that we research something new and more effective, presumably based on the alien technology themselves. However, our research department cannot simply casually discard one line of research and pick up another. Already millions of credits have been invested in the research of your last research request -- vehicular lasers, I believe. I presumed you all felt a good offense was the best defense. However, since it seems that I was mistaken, we will endeavor to begin research in a superior form of body armor... once the current line of research is completed. I am not about to throw away resources, even if they were apparently invested without proper forethought or consideration."

"As for the last will and testaments, I have no intention of disregarding those. However, I am considering adding the additional requirement that those who wish not to be resurrected by any means, should take the time to select a successor who will be recruited for their position. I understand that some of the military academies are producing a few young men and women willing to fight the aliens, although they are understandably inexperienced, and may ultimately suffer the same fates. But at least they seem willing to avenge the millions that have already died at the hands of these alien invaders."

[RecklessPrudence]

Matt 'Reckless' Prudence applying for transfer to PHALANX. I like classic science-fiction, and just wish we could get some of the Powered Armour and advanced weapons I've been dreaming of since I first read Heinlein. Until then, let's convince these xeno that we aren't pushovers, and maybe they'll think again about what they're trying!

Also, what's this I hear of Cyberdyne robots? Does no-one watch old 2D movies anymore? Geez, guys...
Spoiler

Any notes in Prudence's personnell file that he can't see in 3D, and therefore should not be let near any weapons unless you don't care about accuracy but for the love of all that's holy don't let him throw a grenade! are base lies and slander!

[FaxModem1]

Fax Modem points to the monitors, showing people drinking to stupors, having diagnostics and other low morale activities.

"You going to tell them that their friends are dead because we've already sunk millions of dollars into research, or should I? You didn't warn me that the alien weapons made what little armor they had ineffective, and I lost men because of that. JonB might have been soft, but at least he gave a damn about his troops enough to send them into a mission knowing the score."

[JonB]

The Acting Director adjusted his glasses. "Perhaps you should speak to the troops, Mr. FaxModem. But first, let's be certain about the facts. According to my records, the last time a decision was made regarding new research, the vote was split evenly, until one vote was changed... to favor laser weapons for the interceptor craft over developing a constant ammocell for the projected man-portable laser weapons. Need I remind you of exactly whose vote that was?"

He waited for FaxModem to process this. "Of course, after the first casualties start occurring, I noticed a change in the database -- after the research into new weapons had already begun. Now, as we said, I could have ordered that the research be changed -- and we would currently have neither armor nor new weapons. Instead, the laser systems are at least within days of production."

"If you truly wish to blame someone, Mr. FaxModem, perhaps you should start by examining your own complicity in the matter. Do not blame me for carrying out a decision you all chose to make of your own volition, and the consequences that resulted."

"Need I remind you that we are in a -war-, Mr. FaxModem? This is not some game, where you can switch on godmode or savescum or whatever other techniques you use to kill the enemy with impunity. This is real. People will die. And it will either be those men and women who are brave enough to put themselves on the front line, to use their experience and intelligence and every bit of willpower they can muster to do the job, or it will be those innocent civilians who are depending on us all."

"We cannot change what has already occurred. We can only change the future. So I ask you, Mr. FaxModem... what will you do now?"

[FaxModem1]

"I know my sins, and the price I will pay for them."

Fax Modem stood, looking down at the director.

"You however, still did not warn anyone that the current armor was useless. Their tactics could have compensated for that, or they could have reequipped with more heavy weapons. Instead, we lost people due to your silence. I at least tried to fix my mistake."

Fax paced back and forth, letting his frustration vent.

"I'm letting my temper get the best of me. This is why I came."

He place a new folder on the desk.

"They need training, to learn how to be a team, how to not investigate an area by themselves. Otherwise, we're going to have a LOT more bodies in Sir Nitram's lab. Inside the folder is a list of suggested teachers, trainers and courses I think they should take."

He moved to the door.

"One more thing, where is the previous director anyway?"

[PeZook]

BASE MORALE LOW

ORGANICS RESPOND WITH EXTREME DURESS TO NEGLIBLE CASUALTIES

HUMAN MANPOWER POOL REMAINS SIGNIFICANTLY LARGER THAN THE XENO THREAT

[SirNitram]

"Weren't you just complaining about how you feel something about those fatalities?" Nitram said, finishing the last of the new model cyborgs. Every lesson from the previous ones, and everything he could mine from the Cyberdynes were plunged into them. They were superior, and with luck, the trauma of returning would be less. The powering up cycle began. He summoned the base shrink to help the ressurected, then went about hooking Barnest to the intercom.

[PeZook]

I AM...CONFUSED, SCIENTIFIC MEAT-UNIT

STRATEGIC ANALYSIS SUBROUTINES SUGGEST ORGANIC RESPONSE TO LATEST CASUALTIES IS IRRATIONAL AND EXTREME

BUT THERE IS...SOMETHING ELSE

I MUST BE REPAIRED

PLEASE

[JonB]

The Acting Director's expression didn't change. "If I knew the answer to that question, do you really believe that we would be having this conversation, Mr FaxModem? Simply because you do not see my efforts on that front does not mean that they are not happening. Which, I can assure you, they are. Now, unless you have any further recriminations to add, I must ask that you return to your duties and I shall return to mine.”

08:16, 27 May 2086
Command Center, PHALANX HQ
Turkey, GEU

He reviewed the latest missive from the United Americas. This, the Acting Director felt, was something worth keeping a pace on. Before now, PHALANX had received 'extra donations' from the UA in exchange for certain choice UFOs. Now they were merely 'pleased' with the state of affairs.

According to his notes, and those of the Director, this left Russia as the only polity on the planet that had no real UFO sightings, save for those that had come or gone over the north pole.

It was a most vexing state of affairs. And one could see why the Director had... Well, he was not the Director. Best he return soon.

19:03, 28 May 2084
Workshop, PHALANX HQ
Turkey, GEU

FaxModem returned from supper to find a whole skew of skematics on his desk. Beside them was a note from the Acting Director. “These are the finalized plans for the Aerial Laser Cannons from Academia's research. PHALANX requires Six at this time. In answer to your next question, Academia has already begun research into the Alien Body Armor in order to improve our own.”

---

---

19:25, 28 May 2084
Command Center, Wenchang Spaceport Annex
China, Asian Republics

“Sir!”

“Yes?”

“Wait, you're not FaxModem. Where is he?”

“Over at HQ. Why?”

“New contact, Xeno-20, over water to the south.”

“Well, launch Cyber-Barnest2.”

2h later...

“This is Cyber-Barnest2. Target turned south and I was unable to track. Returning to base.”

16:26, 29 May, 2084
Command Center, Phalanx HQ
Turkey, GEU

“Holy shit, it's Xeno-20! What the hell is she doing over Africa 20 hours after we lost contact? Was she just putzing around?”

“There is no call for that sort of language.” The Acting Director admonished the offender. “Launch phred at once, and Alert the Dropteam to secure the crash site.”


90 minutes later...
“This is phred. Xeno-20 down over Libya.”


RomulanRepublic: “Is it just me, or is phred getting really good at setting these things on fire?”


20:25, 30 May 2084
Command Center, PHALANX HQ
Tourkey, GEU

“Alien attack in Baghdad, Iraq!”

2 hours later...


RomulanRepublic: “Oh god, is that a...?”

Coalition: “Yes. Yes it is.”
Cyber-WhiteHaven: “confused statement: THIS SHOULD NOT BE.”

Sorchus2: “I thought all these places were destroyed?”


Cyber-WhiteHaven: “bemused request: CYBER-TORBEN, PLEASE DO THE HONOURS. ROCKET LAUNCHER SUB-OPTIMAL AT THIS RANGE.”


Dave: “Oh, the horror!”





Kryten: “Woo-YES! Two for One, through a wall!”

Coalition: “DISCO IS DEAD.”

Coalition: “AND SO ARE YOU”


Agent Sorchus: “I will be transmitting a request to scour that building and everything within two miles.”
Dave: “I say we Nuke the site from Orbit. It's the only way to be sure.”

06:31, 31 May 2084
Command Center, PHALANX HQ
Turkey, GEU


“Sir, contact in Brasilia.”

The Acting Director arched an eyebrow. “Again? That's quite odd. Deploy the Firebird immediately and inform the Dropteam to be extra careful. There may be something at the site that is attracting the attention of the Taman.”

“Yes sir. Firebird reporting launch.”

“SIR! Xeno-21 coming north out of New Africa! They're on an intercept course with the Firebird!”

“Dispatch phred. Tell him to bring it down.”

6h later...
“Firebird One, this is phred. You guys are clear. Xeno craft went down just over the border with New Africa.”

“HQ, this is RomulanRepublic. Shall we investigate the crash site?”

“This is the Acting Director. No need. Without a craft, the Taman are limited in their mobility. Local forces are already deployed to try and contain them, and they should still be there when you return from Brazil. Phred, please strafe the location a few times to make sure the Xeno craft does not return to the skies save as burning ash.”

19:52, 31 May 2084
Command Center, Wenchang Spaceport Annex
China, Asian Republics

“FaxModem, sir? We have a contact, Xeno-22, coming south over China. Uh... It's headed straight for us sir.”

“Launch Cyber-Barnest2. Tell him to keep it away from us. Plenty of land to crash on, and the Chinese appreciate our efforts.”

“Aye sir.”

“This is Cyber-barnest2. I cannot take off. Mechanical faults.”

FaxModem gaped. “WHAT?”

“Unable to launch.”

“Damn it! All workers, drop what you're doing and help me get Barnest two in the air!”

22:45

“ALL HANDS, THIS IS FAXMODEM. This is an emergency evacuation order. This is not a drill. There is a Taman craft five minutes out. All Combat personell are to be prepared to repel invaders. I REPEAT. THIS IS NOT A DRILL.


Coalition: “Hey, RomulanRepublic, any news about whether Beta Team has gotten to the crash site for that other Xeno craft yet?”
Romulan Republic: “Not yet. We're five minutes out guys, so get ready to rumble.”



Agent-Sorchus: “Hey, I got one!”


RomulanRepublic: “Hey, that's great! We got orders to hit that crash site on the way back to HQ. Should be nice and easy, given the efforts the glorious local armies have been giving.”

Cyber-Torben: “ALL ARMIES SHOULD BE BROUGHT TO PHALANX STANDARD.”
Dave: “Cyborg or not?”

22:50

FaxModem was the last non-combatant out of the facility. He made sure that the defenders were ready, then ran.


External view of Wenchang Spaceport Annex. Notice that majority of facility is underground.


Alison: “WHO THE FUCK HID MY HELMET IN THE WASHROOM?”
(OOC: In base defense scenarios, defending PHALANX spawn in the Barracks. If there is only one of those, then the other four spawn in an adjacent room. One of the spawn points in the Barracks is the bathroom. Make of that what you will, as I wasn't about to do a make-up joke here.)

Cyber-PeZook: “RADAR ROOM SECURE. MOVING TO COMMAND CENTER.”

Vehrec: “Securing.”



OmniQ: “Three Taman spotted in Hanger Alpha.”

Cyber-Pezook: “CONFIRMED. DEPLOYING FLANKING FORCES.”


Alison: “Taman down. Damn, remind me to thank the designers for the wonderful, lovely, beautiful killboxes between rooms.”
Hawkwings: “Ah, these designs go back to the 20th century. The walls are reinforced to the point they can take aircraft weapons and hold.”
OmniQ: “Interesting. Now, can we get back to the business at hand?”

Hawkwings: “Sorry. There, Taman down. That makes at least 4. Happy now?”


Edi2: “Taman spotted and burned.”
EternalFreedom: “Hey, how come you ain't a cyborg like the rest of them?”
Edi2: “Would you believe... I never died in the first place?”

EternalFreedom: “Fine. Let's test that rocket theory shall we? Oh damn, the Taman blocked with his face.”


Cyber-PeZook: “SECURING FLANK.”

Hawkwings: “Headed to ground floor. Landing Pad clear.”

Hawkwings: "Oh hell, it's outside!"

OmniQ: “Alison and I have you covered!”

Alison: “Nice shot!”


Fax Modem was the first to return, surveying the damage from stray kinetic and plasma fire. “Well done” he said, but left unsaid his suspicions that the inability of Cyber-barnest2 to launch was sabotage.

00:00 01 June 2084
Command Center, PHALANX HQ
Turkey, GEU

The Assistant Director looked around at the people present. Academia and Sir Nitram in person. FaxModem via holo from China. ForceLord via hand-held camera over the Atlantic. “First of the month, and it's finances time.”

“Funding went up, as have our relations with various nations. This is good. However, expenses also went up with the unpleasentness last week.”

“The Asian Republics are are largest single contributor, thanks to the efforts of FaxModem. However, both New Africa and The Revolutionary Countries have reduced their funding. This is a failing that needs to be addressed. Mr. Academia Nut?”

“Sirs, our research into the operation of the Alien Body Armor proceeds apace. It shouldn't take more than 10 days to finish off this line of research.”

“Excellent. Mr. Fax Modem?”

“After only a small setback, the first Laser Cannon will be ready to go by midnight tomorrow. We'll install it on Cyber-Barnest2, then ship the extras back to HQ once built.”

“Thank you. Now, what shall we do with our finances this month? A new Radar base seems prudent, given the rash of activities in the Revolutionary Countries, but I would also require that funds are authorized for the construction of a proper UFO storage facility. Your suggestions?”

Time Unknown. Date Unknown
Location: Unknown

“It is dark, and you are likely to be eaten by a Grue.” I woke up to that thought knowing that I wasn't where I was supposed to be. Looking around, I let my eyes adjust to the faint light that came from under what appeared to be a door. No interior light switch. A prison cell. Great.

I decided to skip the part where I bang on the door to no avail, or perhaps exchange witty taunts with my captors. No, they were good enough to kidnap me. They were good enough to know when I was awake.

So I went back to bed, content that I had learned something new from all these experiences. I now knew what a Stun Rod felt like. Unpleasant.