This is the journal of X-Com's commander, Nirur Torir, detailing the Fourth Alien War.
They're back. We've bested them in three wars already, and the aliens still aren't done being beaten. In the last week of the skies over Mega-Primus (for future generations, assuming there are any, Earth has been horribly polluted. Only one self-contained city remains on Earth itself), strange triangles have appeared. UFOs began entering the skies of our city from them. The Senate, with much debate, finally re-created the X-Com program. They elected me as the commander. I'm sure there are better people for the job. I spent the last three years as a field agent for Megapol. Some political reason, I'm sure.
After a 30 minute briefing, during which I learned nothing, I was dropped off at the X-Com base, a renovated warehouse.
Sure doesn't look like much for the salvation of humanity. Let's see what facilities the senate has prepared for us inside.
... I should have known. In the southern end, we have an access lift. That's where personnel enter and exit the base. It is next to the alien containment facility. Idiots. In the north east, we have the vehicle repair bay. It can repair one vehicle at a time. It has an opening to the surface, allowing invaders a second access point. I immediately ordered the living quarters next to it moved, along with the alien containment. They were in the way of security stations.
Continuing on with my tour of the base, I visited the labs.
When I entered, I caught one of the quantum physicists studying "Quantum Physics for Idiots." The Senate expects me to save the world with them?! I fired him on the spot, and called up the university, asking if they had anybody looking for a job. (For whatever reason, all scientists and engineers have ratings from 60 to 100. Some crazy political nonsense, I'm sure.)
Marginally better. I signed the paperwork for their research proposals and moved on. The stores were nearly empty, so I had a secretary order more equipment. Within minutes, transports were bringing in more supplies.
Oddly, this warehouse was built with only one port for incoming vehicles. I made a mental note to dock the combat vehicles in the Marsec arms factory next to us. I then went to examine our vehicle fleet.
Speechless, I told my secretary to order more and went to grab a cup of synthcoffee. Nowhere near as good as the real thing, but that's nearly impossible to get these days. When I returned to check what was ordered, I nearly had a heart attack.
He bought 11 Stormdog cars, claiming they were cheap. Of course they're cheap, they're absolutely worthless!
After I calmed down (and emptied a second lawpistol clip into the now-motionless body on the floor), I called for a janitor and had the mechanics strip the stormdogs and sell them again. I checked the markets myself. Not much there, so I bought all four hoverbikes. I suspected that they'd be hard to shoot down.
With modern technology, vehicles could easily be remote-controlled from anywhere. Each of the soldiers would be allowed to own and control one vehicle. Considering the merits of this idea, especially after what I'd already seen, I decided to check on the soldiers, mentally bracing myself for the worst.
First up was a commando, the legendary Aqizzar. Could the Senate have actually pulled through and hired competent soldiers? Of course, I may have trouble convincing him not to level every structure infected with aliens.
The Senate expected me to personally be on the battlefield. Right. Send the commander to the front. That couldn't possibly go wrong.
Next, some crazy guy named Bug. Carried dual lawpistols, claimed to be an ace shot. Sure, why not.
O'Conner would be the next one below me in the chain of command.
Dougan seems ... nice enough.
Spartan 117 was a sniper. Claimed to be fighting for the honor of his family or somesuch.
Dynamitri ... likes explosions. I'll have to keep an eye on him, we cannot afford to replace anything.
Before I could properly meet the rest of them, my radio went off. Ha, I'd always expected to have something better then radios in the future. "Commander, please report to the control room. We have a situation." I dashed off, and promptly got lost. Five minutes later I found a janitor who showed me where it was.
On my arrival, I looked around. There was one middle-aged man there, and only one computer station. "So ... where's the control room?"
Operator: "This is it. We're underfunded, commander. Anyway, we've had a reported sighting of aliens in the city."
Nirur Torir: "Right, good job. Sound the alarm, I want every soldier in the APC in five minutes, ready to go. I'll grab another coffee - Or not, Senate wants me participating in missions. I'm off then, don't let anyone break anything while I'm gone."
After a frantic eight minutes of finding the barracks, getting suited up, and grabbing a gun, I entered the APC and we were off.
An overzealous Megapol agent destroyed a bike registered to a gang. That road would be out for a while, we'd have to find a different route.
So, we continued on our way, me still introducing myself to everybody.
Oh well, were here already. I pressed a button and the mission briefing flashed up on the side of the APC.
I was in squad one, along with Aqizzar, Spartan 117, and some crazy mutant lady.
Squad two consisted of John, Spartan 117, Dynamitri, and Bug.
Squad three was ... What were their names again? Ah, I'd just call them Redshirt 1, 2, and 3.
My squad came in from the north east, while squad 2 came in from the north west. Squad 3 was in between us.
There were two towers in front of us. Squads 1 and 2 would each take one, while squad 3 would stand in front of them and watch for hostiles.
Squad 2 found something.
Dynamitri: "I've got it."
Dougan: "You idiot! Why did you try to throw a grenade five stories up? I think you bruised my arm! What is wrong with you?"
Dynamitri: "You'll live."
Redshirt 2: "Hey, I think I got something over here. It's sorta cute."
Nirur Torir: "Squad 3, kill whatever it is Redshirt 2 found. Squad 2, kill that blue thing you've got."
Redshirt 2: "You know my name! I never told you my name. You must by psychic or something!"
Crazy Mutant Lady: "He's not."
Redshirt 2: "Aw, it's so cute, I think I'll bring it back to base and call it Ned."
Redshirt2: "Nooo! I accidentally hit the trigger. Ned is dead. I ... Is this all life is? Killing those we care about?"
Nirur Torir: "Can it, there are still hostiles running around."
Dougan: "Target nullified."
Operator: "The APC's scanners don't show any more lifeforms. Mission complete."
John: "Not sure what this thing he was carrying is, but I'm bringing it back to base."
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