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
![Image](http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/3491/14ufo000.jpg)
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
![Image](http://img845.imageshack.us/img845/4561/14ufo001.jpg)
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
![Image](http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/1831/14ufo009.jpg)
“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.”
![Image](http://img811.imageshack.us/img811/8297/14ufo012.jpg)
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
![Image](http://img580.imageshack.us/img580/5750/14ufo050.jpg)
“Alien attack in Baghdad, Iraq!”
2 hours later...
![Image](http://img841.imageshack.us/img841/8085/14ufo052.jpg)
RomulanRepublic: “Oh god, is that a...?”
![Image](http://img543.imageshack.us/img543/8012/14ufo056.jpg)
Coalition: “Yes. Yes it is.”
Cyber-WhiteHaven: “confused statement: THIS SHOULD NOT BE.”
![Image](http://img840.imageshack.us/img840/5619/14ufo064.jpg)
Sorchus2: “I thought all these places were destroyed?”
![Image](http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/7418/14ufo068.jpg)
Cyber-WhiteHaven: “bemused request: CYBER-TORBEN, PLEASE DO THE HONOURS. ROCKET LAUNCHER SUB-OPTIMAL AT THIS RANGE.”
![Image](http://img708.imageshack.us/img708/2240/14ufo069.jpg)
Dave: “Oh, the horror!”
![Image](http://img198.imageshack.us/img198/4543/14ufo074.jpg)
Kryten: “Woo-YES! Two for One, through a wall!”
Coalition: “
DISCO IS DEAD.”
![Image](http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/2487/14ufo077.jpg)
Coalition: “
AND SO ARE YOU”
![Image](http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/2671/14ufo078.jpg)
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.”
![Image](http://img546.imageshack.us/img546/548/14ufo081.jpg)
“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?”
![Image](http://img847.imageshack.us/img847/1015/14ufo082.jpg)
“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
![Image](http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/388/14ufo084.jpg)
“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
![Image](http://img695.imageshack.us/img695/9057/14ufo086.jpg)
“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.
![Image](http://img600.imageshack.us/img600/1859/14ufo085.jpg)
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.”
![Image](http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/9597/14ufo099.jpg)
Agent-Sorchus: “Hey, I got one!”
![Image](http://img847.imageshack.us/img847/74/14ufo108.jpg)
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
![Image](http://img560.imageshack.us/img560/1055/14ufo109.jpg)
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.
![Image](http://img863.imageshack.us/img863/6527/14ufo111.jpg)
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.)
![Image](http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/3923/14ufo112.jpg)
Cyber-PeZook: “RADAR ROOM SECURE. MOVING TO COMMAND CENTER.”
![Image](http://img802.imageshack.us/img802/7108/14ufo113.jpg)
Vehrec: “Securing.”
![Image](http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/6265/14ufo116.jpg)
OmniQ: “Three Taman spotted in Hanger Alpha.”
![Image](http://img607.imageshack.us/img607/4526/14ufo117.jpg)
Cyber-Pezook: “CONFIRMED. DEPLOYING FLANKING FORCES.”
![Image](http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/5790/14ufo118.jpg)
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?”
![Image](http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/1460/14ufo119.jpg)
Hawkwings: “Sorry. There, Taman down. That makes at least 4. Happy now?”
![Image](http://img594.imageshack.us/img594/1751/14ufo122.jpg)
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?”
![Image](http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/4976/14ufo123.jpg)
EternalFreedom: “Fine. Let's test that rocket theory shall we? Oh damn, the Taman blocked with his face.”
![Image](http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/6622/14ufo124.jpg)
Cyber-PeZook: “SECURING FLANK.”
Hawkwings: “Headed to ground floor. Landing Pad clear.”
![Image](http://img863.imageshack.us/img863/1117/14ufo127.jpg)
Hawkwings: "Oh hell, it's outside!"
![Image](http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/1441/14ufo129.jpg)
OmniQ: “Alison and I have you covered!”
![Image](http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/1739/14ufo131.jpg)
Alison: “Nice shot!”
![Image](http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/7690/14ufo132.jpg)
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.”
![Image](http://img198.imageshack.us/img198/5383/14ufo134.jpg)
“Funding went up, as have our relations with various nations. This is good. However, expenses also went up with the unpleasentness last week.”
![Image](http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/4228/14ufo135.jpg)
“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?”
![Image](http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/5482/14ufo138.jpg)
“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?”
![Image](http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/271/14ufo139.jpg)
“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.