Commander's Log
The aliens have been avoiding flying near the base, but one decided to test the waters today. Fishermen from the Azores spotted it about the same time our radar did.
A Condor was sent out to intercept it, the second renaming on high alert. The light scout dodged both sidewinders, but had inferior maneuverability. Pilot O'Brady shot it down with only light damage.
((I won't generally show air battles. Planes can be ordered to attack specific targets, [probably] sent to a point, use specials [1-Afterburners, go 25% faster for more fuel. 2-Evasive maneuver, uses fuel to dodge to the side, 3-Retreat], or arm/disarm specific weapons [So you don't firing both missiles at once]. Fuel is limited, especially this far from the base. Not all planes have the same abilities, and I expect more interesting ones from advanced craft.))
My first battle in the Xenonauts project went surprisingly well. I expected far worse, after reading the reports.
We landed in a desert, right by a scout. It was cowering behind cover; EuchreJack somehow scored a direct hit with a rocket. It did not survive.
The targets all had the guns dubbed plasma pistols. If they hit, they're every bit as devastating as could be expected of a blast of searing plasma. As they don't seem to have any accuracy at long range, we settled in for a firefight. It nearly went flawlessly.
That was when a stray shot threw EuchreJack's aim off while he was firing, and Felius nearly paid with his life. I had him return to the transport to rearm and calm down. Felius was pinned down, but made it out alive after we cleared the rest of the rock formation.
The rest of the mission passed easily. The demo charges are not strong enough to pierce most of the hull, as I predicted, but one is enough to break through the doors. The large doors that make up most of the craft's forward profile.
The last alien in the ship wasn't a problem. Moroccan authorities later found one hiding in the corner of the kitchen in their guard station. It killed three before it could be brought down. The representative was not happy.
The
plasma pistol is taking longer to get working than the researchers expected, and it might be easier to have them study the strange
alien alloys instead. They think they could make better armor from it. The troops might prefer the researchers get us the
other sort of armor, which they could hide behind or use as a more durable scout as it sprays the area with machinegun fire. They've even suggested converting anti-aircraft rockets into a support
weapon for the scout tanks. We'll also want the
alternative interceptor before the aliens start sending anything more powerful than scouts, but we need the maneuverable condors against scouts.
I think I'll take a survey amongst the troops. It's good for morale to ask the ones fighting and dying which technologies they would rather use. ((New game, remember, so I haven't actually invested any research time into anything yet.))