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Nephtys wrote:We deny any knowledge of an illegal posthumous cloning project.

Maybe I will make it to a second mission after all

Question: Having never played the X-Com games, can you use the tanks/vehicles in the on-foot segments? Or are they strictly for the city-map parts?

Why is it whenever Omega Squad goes on a supply raid mission seeking aid from our allies, everyone starts looking at me?

born in shadow wrote:Question: Having never played the X-Com games, can you use the tanks/vehicles in the on-foot segments? Or are they strictly for the city-map parts?

In UFO Defense and Terror from the Deep, you can bring along 'Heavy Weapon Platforms (HWP)' or 'Submersable Weapon Systems (SWS)', which are small remote-controlled Tanks that occupy 4 times the space of a soldier. They varied in usefulness, but weren't really 'tanks', just called that for convenience.

Apoc's vehicles are way beyond the trooper scale and are only on the cityscape. Though it is funny in Apoc that a tank or ground vehicle can blow up one of your agents if you're walking on the street in the strategic map. Previously, I've had an stormdog belonging to an Alien-controlled organization gun down one of my agents with a 40mm autocannon, while the agent got off the PeopleTube and was waiting for a taxi.

Edit:
Anyway, this current game's going kinda interesting in a few ways. The inter-factional warfare is really through the roof for some reason. Every few hours, some unregistered Hovercars terrorize a block of the city before MegaPol gets their asses in gear and takes them down.

Sounds like the Gangs are getting up in arms. You should do your civic duty, and see if they have any connections to the Cult, or the Aliens.

Ask them questions with Disruptor Cannons and Power Swords.

I don't even know why you're bothering to use any of the road-bound vehicles. Those things are fucking death traps - invariably anything that shoots at them will miss and destroy the road underneath them - instantly destroying them. I sell all that shit off at the start of the game, all the better to buy proper flying craft with.

If you read back near the beginning, Nephtys noted that there were Mods in effect that made the ground weapons a bit more powerful, and reinforced the streets for exactly that reason.

Ah that explains it. I just look at the pretty pictshures.

Nephtys wrote:Anyway, this current game's going kinda interesting in a few ways. The inter-factional warfare is really through the roof for some reason. Every few hours, some unregistered Hovercars terrorize a block of the city before MegaPol gets their asses in gear and takes them down.

That's actually really cool to see. It's almost like the game is delivering what was promised.

Working on the next update, and ho-ly-crap, the MarSec Minilauncher is awesome. Nitram can fire a salvo of five small missiles that guide in on their targets with almost perfect accuracy from far away, and bend them around slight corners. The thing's insane.

Also next time: Alpha kills more civilians. Hooray?

MY FUNCTION IS KILLING. MY FUNCTION IS WELL USED.

Clearly they wern't really civillians, they were aliens in disguse!

Or mind-fucked civillians.

Or Cultists.

Yea, one of those, what're the press corps going for again? I need my story straight before I go outside >.>

How's the recruitment situation looking now Nephtys? Still got a backlog, or are spots opening up?

Clearly they are mind-controlled alien cultists disguised as sectoid-human hybrids. Why? Because

Caius wrote:PURGE THE ALIEN, THE MUTANT, THE HERETIC!

It satisfies all three!

Also, from the journal of Squad Leader White Haven:

'This glorified flashlight sucks.'

Personal log 2#

Clearly an upheaval has started and the aliens have switched their strategy to infiltration. I have confirmed the rumor that one of our own has been attacked by humans wielding an alien egg! CLEARLY A WEAKNESS IN HUMAN PSYCHOLOGY THAT MU... no. The true issue has that been of a Psyclone implant that HAS TRANSMUTTED THE WEAK-MINDED HUMAN'S MIND TO... no. I must focus on being serious. However, I wonder whether it is possible that one of the gangs have been infiltrated by aliens or whether the TV station's crew is mind-controlled.

Either way, this is very disturbing news. Coupled with the fact that the researchers I have talked to insist that the aliens cannot survive in our environment, I find myself running possible game-theory emulations about this situation. I often find myself missing at least one variable if not more. PROBABLY THAT THEY ARE MASSIVELY RETARDED.

I have also been told of the successful raid upon the Cult of Sirious. SOPHISTS THE FEEL-GOOD IDIOT LOT OF THEM! More specifically, I have been told 164 times, all featuring "then I set him on fire", 75 including "I killed them with my bare hands", 56 "so there I was, all alone, my weapon empty and surrounded". I have noted 43 variations of "and I was drunk to boot". I have recorded over 243 unique one-liners, and if all of them were said, the mission would have taken 1 day, 8 hours and 32 minutes long.

AND I WASN'T THERE TO WATCH ALL THE SOPHISTS BURN!

The only thing stopping another raid is strict control over the APC keys and the Commander's rant. I was unaware that a human being could shout so loud.

Oh dear, is that the alarm? I must cut thi FINALLY ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO RAIN RIGHTEOUS DESTRUCTION!

Wednesday, March 22, 2084
Micro-Update, Col. Nephtys, X-COM Intelligence

Omega made a visit to the Temple of the Visitors today, to ask politely if the cult had anything to do with the recent acts of terrorism and assault on our arms suppliers, and to find answers on the mystery of the Psi-Clone unit found in the dead civilian.

CaiusWickersham wrote:PURGE THE ALIEN, THE MUTANT, THE HERETIC!

Caius paid four cultists a special hello.


Covenant cordially invited one cultist to visit our base with the heavy weapon squad watching from the floor above. We also happened to liberate for ourselves four Psi-Clone modules to inspect, and about $20,000 worth of expensive-looking objects. Our guest will undergo thorough 'questioning'.

There are no symbols to properly describe the evil laughter currently coming from my body.

Let the Interrogations Begin!

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

Biowarfare in this game is notoriously broken. Even I've heard about C-toxin, though it is pretty evil.

Notoriously broken? Pffft! It's to this what Heavy Plasma was in the first!

Until you hit the Cult of Sirius and then realize that you forgot to equip anything but C-type toxin guns. >.<

Oh cool, android Cpl Kendall has his debut.

To: MiB@X.com
From: JonB@X.com
Sbj: Psi

Colonel, given the proven incapacity of Psi-warfare on the latest alien menace, I request that all Hybrids currently employed by X-Com be given orders to no longer consider psi-attacks to be a primary offense against the aliens. Instead, I suggest that we should be placed in positions of either combat support of our Android co-workers by wielding long range weaponry. Of course, attempts at using psi should be used upon any new alien species we encounter, as this would be the best way to identify any intelligence in the field.

The other suggestion is to create a dedicated squad for work in inside Megaprimus. The appearence of more alien sympathizers, and the attacks upon X-COM personell by humans would indicate that psi would be an excellent way to quickly determine who is or is not brainsucked or a sympethizer (The Cult is, of course, an obvious example of the latter).

With regards - JonB (Omega Squad)

White Haven wrote:Until you hit the Cult of Sirius and then realize that you forgot to equip anything but C-type toxin guns. >.<

You are a terrible commander.