OmniQ passed his qualifications, so I rotated VortexEmpire off the dropteam until he was cleared by the hospital for active duty.
06:30, 18 April 2084
Command Center, Wenchang Spaceport Annex
China, Asian Republic
“Sir!”
FaxModen looked up from where his project status was updating to look at the Geoscape. He could understand why JonB liked this chair, and why he was so willing to go out and kill aliens.
Paperwork was worse than the Taman. “Yes?”
“We have a priority alert from the Chinese, sir. It seems that a group of Tamen have attacked one of their storage facilities, and they want a PHALANX response.”
“Why the hell are you telling me for? Alert HQ, and they'll send out the Firebird.”
13:50, 18 April 2084
China, Asian Republic
JonB: “You sure these are the right Coordinates? There's nothing here.”
Dave: “Uh, sir? Look to the right. There's a pit there. And a road.”
Alison: “And where the UFO?”
JonB: “According to the reports, there was none. Almost like the ship came in under the radar, landed and left.”
Edi: Or it could be stealthed against radar.”
RomulanRepublic: “Oh god, I hope not.”
JonB: “Focus, people.”
Alison: “Front door is open. Blasted. The entrance is dark, but infrared shows it clear.”
ForceLord: “Keep to the walls, men. Snipers and Rocket to the back. Assault to the front.”
Coalition: “Holy fuck, what is this place?”
Edi: “According to the in-flight brief, the Chinks say this is a quote-civilian refuge in times of disaster-unquote.”
JonB: “Bullshit.”
OmegaChief: “Stow it, Tamen halfway down on the left.”
OmniQ: “And one to the right. Hey, you guys sure that R&D fixed the sights on this EM Rifle? I'd hate to miss at point-blank range.”
Alison: “Plasma from the left!”
Edi: “Agh! Fucker on the right shot me!”
Edi: “This is DAKKA YOU FUCKER.”
JonB: “Ah, the glories of explosions. Seems a waste to use what would otherwise be an artillery shell on a single alien.”
OmniQ: “Whatever works, sir.”
Alison: “Here, Edi. Let me patch you up.”
Edi: “Thanks.”
(
Medkits give temporary hitpoints. In this case, Edi was healed 27. Proper HP recovery happens at base, when people are not going out on missions. Unlike X-COM proper, you can send injured people out on missions, but they are still injured and thus, more likely to die.)
OmegaChief: “Coalition, with me! Taman coming up from the right! He's got a pistol and that blade that Academia waves around.”
OmegaChief: “DAKKA DAKKA DAKKA”
ForceLord: “Spread out. Secure the facility.”
00:00, 19 April 2084
Barracks, PHALANX HQ
Turkey, GEU
Dave had won the game of rock-paper-scissors with Edi.
“Probe this, Tamen!”
04:25, 19 April 2084
Command Center, Wenchang Spaceport Annex
China, Asian Republic
FaxModem's attention was once again drawn to the Geoscape. “Hell with them. We don't have an interceptor yet. We'll keep an eye on it, and if it lands, alert HQ.”
14:00, 21 April 2084
Command Center, PHALANX HQ
Turkey, GEU
“Sir! Xeno-7 on the Geoscape! Coming up over the Red Sea!”
“Alert phred,” I said, calmly. “Get him to shoot it down, and not die.”
“HQ, this is phred. I am in the air.”
“Engaging.”
“HQ, be advised, I am returning to base. Xeno-7 is still in the air.”
I grabbed the microphone. “EXPLAIN YOURSELF, phred. I DO HAVE A BOOM STICK.”
“Uh, HQ....”
I blinked. “Oh.”
17:30, 22 April 2084
Command Center, PHALANX HQ
Turkey, GEA
“Alien attack on the Ground! Outside Maracaibo, Peru!”
“This is RomanRepublic, Firebird in the air!”
“...”
“...”
“Uh, did the director leave already?”
“Yes, why?”
“Um, there's a problem with the geoscape. Maracaibo is in Venezuela, on the north side of the continent. The location of the alien attack, which is correct, by the way - is actually in Peru.”
“Oh. Well, let's try to get that fixed before the Director notices.”
(
My first bug! Well, not really. You have to remember, UFO: Alien Invasion is an incomplete work in progress. Support is needed! The location of this city is incorrect, and the closest Peruvian city is Puerto Maldonado in the Madre de Dios region of the nation.)
10:10, 23 April 2084
Peruvian Airspace, Revolutionary Nations
RomulanRepublic: “I see the enemy ship guys. It's beside a couple huts in a clearing. Lights are on and people are home. HOT DROP HOT DROP HOT DROP!”
OmniQ: “Two Tamen by the huts. Firing. Hey! The sights are fixed! It's dead!”
JonB: “Let's see if I can go two for two. Ah... nope.”
(
UAV shot of Dave attempting to flank the Taman from it's right. He has the Stun Rod and pistol at the ready.)
Edi: “Holy shit! The guy's going berserk! Watch out for that knife!”
(
No idea who that is, I think it's a name for the Alien.)
Alison: “Taman! In the ship!”
Marab, foreman of the plantation, never expected this. Never expected the aliens on the news, who killed five cities, to come to his small farm. But come they did, and now he cowered as the raging alien came at him with sword in hand.
But to the end of his days, he would swear to YHWH that the blue-clad soldier charged at the alien with a valiant yell, distracting it from its vile task. He would swear that the man, acting like one of the Knights of old, engaged the demon, The Rod of Man against The Sword of the Enemy. That the battle was one of legend, the likes of which mortal men could only dream of seeing once in a thousand years, before the Man struck down the heathen alien with all the might of humanity triumphant and proclaimed that there would be no more innocent blood spilled this day or any other.
Marab would know these things to be true and glorious, until the day he died.
What really happened was Dave sneaked up behind the enraged alien, double-charged the stun rod, and stuck it up between the legs of the Taman.
Dave: “Hi!”
Dave: “HAHA! I GOT A LIVE ONE! I WIN!”
JonB: “Secure it in the Firebird, Dave! Now!”
OmniQ: “Hey, let's see if this works...”
OmniQ: “Did I hit it?”
Alison: “No. Good try though. Try being closer next time.”
(
Later analysis would show that the Electromagnetic Rifle punched through the exterior wall, then an interior bulkhead with a single shot. Many nations desire to purchase this weapon for its penetrating capacity.)
OmegaChief: “Alright guys, if that alien pokes it head out, I want to fill it with led, then BBQ the fucker. We got one live one, the boys at home can tell us if we need more next time.”
JonB: “Is it cowering?”
Coalition: “Who cares? It ain't dodging!”
Edi: “Alright, breaching the UFO. Last time, the guy was on the second floor, so keep an eye out.”
OmegaChief: “Taman spotted at the top of the stairs.”
OmegaChief: “I can't believe I'm doing this
again.”
I got off the Firebird shortly after Midnight on the 24th of April. The others on the Dropteam secured the passage to Alien Containment as Academia Nut and SirNitram moved our new guest to its new suite.
“ATTENTION!” I yelled out over the din of arriving base staff, which promptly quieted down. Maybe the Rocket Launcher had something to do with that. “I know there is going to be a party, and certain... activities later. So I'm going to lay down the law right now. No one touches the alien in Containment. Not until the eggheads give their consent that is. I'm certain quite a few of you will volunteer for related duties, so I'll let Academia and Nitram handle that.”
“Then why don't we go out and capture a few more?” Someone yelled out, but ducked back into invisibility before I could single them out.
I gave a winning smile.
“Can I get a HELL YEAH?”
I had fun writing this. Does it show?
