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[DFNewb]

Can I get a Soldier? Preferably a Lazor pistol as his weapon.

[Eidalac]

Hrm.

If it's an option, I'd vote to prep another base somewhere in SE asia, geared for production/offense, or at least for more radar coverage in the region.

Offense wise, those alien grenades look like FUN.

[DI7789]

Sorry for the late reply, spent last night trying to make XComUtil work with Vista. It does, but kills the framerate.

Chapter 10: Meet the Spartan

We've started manufacturing of Power Suits. We currently have enough for everyone except the three new Redshirts. I'm sure we can replace them if they go up in smoke anyway.

It's May 31st, and I'm due to meet up with the Council of Funding Nations in two hours. Wish me luck.



I swear, they are unpleasable.

Anyway, now it's June. I'm looking forward to this month, I've got a good feeling.



Told ya. Interceptors are already dispatched. This shouldn't take long.



McFrederick was lagging behind a bit. One of the pilots managed to engage it over Canada. But he only managed to get a single shot off before it fled.



Eventually the pilots were forced to give up, since they were running out of fuel. I wonder where that ship was going...



...Oh.



Mission Control: Everyone, attempt to find the alien who leads the main force, and then try to stun it and take it alive.

Spartan 117: Roger that, Mission Control.

Obamarama: The area outside the Ranger's clear. I'm going deeper in to the city.



Obamarama: Uh...can anyone else see this?

Mission Control: Got it, new alien species encountered.

Obamarama: Look's like a snake-man. I wonder how lasers work on it.



Obamarama: It's down. That was easier than I thought it'd be.

Mission Control: Attention all soldiers, capturing a leader is no longer necessary. For now, stay wary, we don't know how dangerous this new species is.



Obamarama: What the hell is- Oh God it's trying to destroy the tank!



Obamarama: That took three shots, the tank's battery is drained.

Sir Snipesalot: Jeez, these guys mean business.



Obamarama: These snakedudes go down pretty fast.



Obamarama: O-kay...that's disgusting.

Spartan 117: What?

Obamarama: There's a dead body here, no plasma wounds or anything, it just looks like it's been...ripped apart.

Spartan 117: Ugh, try and ignore it.



Obamarama: I've got two in the building opposite the Skyranger. I don't suppose any of you fancy...I dunno...helping out?

Spartan 117: Why? You've pretty much cleared the place already.

Redshirts: We'll help out.

Obamarama: Thanks guys.



Redshirt: There's loads of dead bodies around here. These things are killing machines.

Sir Snipesalot: We aren't gonna be seeing much action this mission, are we?

Spartan 117: Doubt it.



Obamarama: *grumblegrumble*



Redshirt: Another of those...things...I'm gonna need some help!

Spartan 117: Alright, everyone, out of the Ranger!

Sir Snipesalot: Jeez, two direct hits and it hasn't gone down...



Spartan 117: Quickly! Radios on mute!

Obamarama: ARGGGGHHHH THOSE FU-

Spartan 117: Well done men.

Nirur Torir: Hey, what's it-



Nirur Torir: Dear God...

Spartan 117: Quickly, concentrate fire before they get one of us!



Sir Snipesalot: One down!



Spartan 117: Another down.



Undead Benito Mussolini: Snakeman down.

Spartan 117: Okay, everyone, search the city. There's at least one more left.



Nirur Torir: I think I got it. I see another of those things up there, I'm opening fire!



Nirur Torir: Heh, direct hit!

Spartan 117: It's still standing!



Sir Snipesalot: Not any more.



Redshirt: Argh!

Sir Snipesalot: Damnit, he's down.



Sir Snipesalot: Another one down...



Redshirt: And another.

Spartan 117: How many more are there?!



Spartan 117: Oh.

Debriefing

Another worrying mission, how many more alien races are out there? And what of this new species of alien? Why does it infect people rather than kill them? And how come it's so goddamn fast?





The scientists wanted to research Alien Navigation for the next project, they think they can make some new type of aircraft from it. From now, I won't be covering the UFO Recoveries in particularly great detail, since I'm sure it would get boring to hear about the same fights over and over again.







I must be off now, I'll continue June's entry next time. So far, we've managed to shoot down two UFOs with McFrederick's plasma beam-outfitted Interceptor, and we've recovered one of them. Hopefully the rest of June will be as nice as it has been so far.

End of Chapter 10

Readers' Decision

Manufacturing vs. Researching, should we start building Firestorms or wait until our research has yielded a better X-Com craft?

Also on the subject of Research, what should we concentrate on for now, keep researching new craft or should we start looking at the origins of the Alien Menace? Or something completely different?

P.S. If we can afford it, should we build another base? (I ask because I like Eidalac's suggestion and want to see what the other readers think of it.)

[Nirur Torir]

I vote we:
A) Make another base for more radar coverage
B) Build Firestorms. IIRC, a pair of Firestorms with plasmas can take down a battleship without too much trouble, with a single Firestorm being able to take down anything smaller. Avengers take too of the precious E-115 for standard use, while Skyrangers work fine for most things. Been a while since I played though, so I may be a bit confused about that.
C) Plasma hovertanks.

[Eidalac]

I'd build at least 1, if not 2, firestorms.  If nothing else they can give you better response time and you won't have to worry about missing a UFO because of waiting on the primaries to return/refuel.

The infantry seems to be doing good, but the tanks seem to go down to easy, so upgrading them would be a priority for me.

[Itnetlolor]

Spoiler: Combat Report (click to show/hide)

----<XCOM: UFO DEFENSE INFORMATION CODEX | LOG INPUT DATE: 06-02-99 TIME: 23:00 HOURS>----

SOLDIER REPORTING: [CLASSIFIED] "SIR SNIPESALOT" [CLASSIFIED]

MISSION: QUELL TERRORIST THREAT
CLASSIFICATION: TERROR SITE (NEW SPECIES: SNAKEMAN/CHRYSSALID)
STATUS: SUCCESS

THESIS: Original goal-- Capture live leader. New goal-- Eliminate immediate threat

REPORT: Situation was grim at the start. 2 new species have been spotted. Classifications are as follows: One of snake form (as we labeled Snakemen) appears strong, but mostly on the frontside carapace. Laser weapons seem most effective in dealing with the creatures. A strange insect creature has been spotted along with these Snakemen. Considering it's been witnessed they burst from within their victim, like a chryssalis; it has been issued they are labeled Chryssalid. These creatures have been reported as absolutely dangerous, and shall not be encountered in close quarters by any means. The claws have rendered a tank into base components, and an XCOM agent has died, but still proceeded towards other agents before another of the creatures came from within him. There was little that remained thereafter of the agent.

---EMERGENCY SECURITY UPDATE---

• CODE YELLOW SECURITY MEASURE: All agents have been comissioned to be wary of behaviors, and to destroy any Chryssalid that comes nearby. Top priority comes to destroying the infection immediately.
  
  
• CODE GREEN SECURITY MEASURE: All base personnel must take caution and observe your peers closely in case infection occurs. After any mission or task (research teams) involving Chryssalids, all staff must be observed closely in order to quarantine the infection.
  
  
• CODE BLUE SECURITY MEASURE: All pilots and defense crew must be sure to thoroughly destroy any ships that may be a threat to all personnel and operatives if any ships intend retaliation.
  
  
• CODE RED SECURITY MEASURE: In case all else fails, all evidence of base and operations; including personnel must be executed under direct order of the UN. It is in order to quarantine the infection, and destroy it on the spot. Waivers have already been signed upon signing in with XCOM.

[END REPORT]

Spoiler: Personal Log (click to show/hide)

Journal entry: 6-2-99, Midnight

My goodness. Tonight's mission was actually rather frightening. Those things, those bugs!!! Just what the hell were those things?!? I think they thought Obamarama was inside the tank, it was torn apart like a tin of food. This is almost a running gag. Like not being able to keep it alive because there were too many buttons or something.

The mission ended with most of the city in ruin. I think I remember one last person scampering away in terror. As much as it's noted a success (Chryssalid epidemic averted), still, barely anyone was left.

Good news everyone! Kaylee's notes have been regarded and the ship she scribbled down was refined many times over by the science teams. We actually have a potential anti-UFO UFO of our own. I'm sure McFrederick would be surprised that the knock on the head by the frisbee inspired his upcoming ship. With this new beast, he should be able to knock down some battleships and whatnot.

She's also working on a way to mount a powerful beam cannon on to a tank-frame. She noticed that the design is too blocky, and the weight distribution would break the neck of the machine. A disc would work better with the distribution. She decided to salvage a Cyberdisk frame and see what she can do about setting up a mounting hardpoint. She seems rather excited. I bet Obamarama would appreciate what she's doing to make his tanks last longer than a single mission.

I figure we should celebrate the day she got promoted to Chief Engineer (as well as Sergeant for her services). I setup a commemoration ceremony of my own for her. I think I found my moment. I might try to propose to her tonight. Wish me luck.

    ._______.
       /|\
---    |||
     ._\|/_.

If we are able to, let's get cracking on manufacturing. 3 Hovertank/Plasma (1 for Skyranger, 1 for base defense, and 1 more for the other base), let's also have a firestorm at least for the main base, and transfer an interceptor to another base to serve patrol where we can't keep a constant eye on.

As for research: let's work on new craft until we can get better weapons/PSI. After that's settled, we can research origins.

Another base can work as a relay station of sorts.

[CJ1145]

Spoiler: Diary of Ruckus (click to show/hide)

Dear diary,

Today my comrades and I endeavored to save a town from a terrorist attack, alien in origin. There, we encountered two new species of aliens, one being the apparently vicious and brutal Snakemen, and a creature that seems tailored to instill terror amongst the Snakemen's foes. Due to their build reminding me of the chrysalis of a butterfly, I have dubbed them Chrysalids. Their ability to turn any human into another Chrysalid is troubling, and I hope that we will not encounter them often in the future, as they are a menace that I do not think we can survive.

He actually has a firm grasp on several languages, he just prefers to get the message across as simply as he can.

[Akigagak]

Obamarama: MY GODDAMN TANK KEEPS EXPLODING ARRRGGHH. !$£%£!$B%@%$% @£%^$@£$%!  £^@$!@ ^ $% &%^ ££% &$^ $@ £!^£& % @@£$ $%&%&$ £$% @£&91!!1

[Kagus]

Well, I must admit, this thread got me to pick up X-Com again.  Let's say I've had "mixed results"...  Sometimes, every last man will get ripped to shreds on a mission before they can pop two shots off.  Then I reload a save, take the exact same mission and annihilate the entire enemy force without losing a single man.

Fun stuff.


Anyways, in the event that you *are* taking on more goons, I'd like to put in an order for a plasma-slinging grunt name o' Joseph Stalvern (should speak in a peculiar manner).  If he finds his end by having a Chryssalid zombify him, then the world will positively shine in epicness.

By the way, how far are you planning on taking this (provided everything works out in your favor)?  Are you going to rush off for the endgame as soon as it's viable, or are you going to sit back and enjoy swatting aside the petty alien invasion for a while?

By the way, the online UFOpaedia states that the avenger is in fact more efficient at fuel consumption than the Firestorm.  In fact, it really does put it up as an "ultimate" craft.  Whether or not you want to try and rush for that is another matter.

[Nirur Torir]

Oops, it really has been a while. Consider my vote changed to Avengers and skipping Firestorms then.

[Spartan 117]

Avengers!

[DI7789]

Votes noted. Sorry for the late reply, an update shall be up tomorrow without fail, and all new applicants will be added in by then.

[Mr Tk]

I'll take another meatsack recruit if that's ok.

Name: Nibbles

At the rate they're dying I shudder to get any more technical than that.

[Kagus]

Hmmm, I see that at least a couple of your soldiers are carrying two-handed weapons plus a stun rod in the other hand...  Doesn't that reduce accuracy?

I just had my first run-in with snakemen.  Reeeaally can't say I was prepared for that.  Took me three tries from a saved game before I managed to get it down right.  DAMN those Chryssies are nasty...  Especially when you still haven't gotten your ass in gear and researched heavy plasma.  I was plunking away at those guys with just lasers (plus a rocket launcher, and the heavy cannon and autocannon that have downed maybe five aliens total since the beginning of the game).


Also of note as far as research is considered, is the fact that we're a step further on the path to Plasma hovertanks.  Always a fine choice.

[zchris13]

I would like a redshirt, please.