Just when you thought it was safe to... TFTD, the soldier genocide simulator.

[Saphroneth]

"Hey, look, an Alien."

"Correction: TWO ex-Aliens."
This is really pissing me off. How do the Commanders make it look so easy?

"Nice try."
Aaargh! How can this be!

I'm going to die on this miserable rock!
"Now that's a sweet sound. Hey, Ugly, you dropped your gun!"
"We needed another ranking Alien anyway... Where's that Cattle Prod?"
*bzzrp!*


That was worse than the base attack. At least we know who's vulnerable to psionics now.

Caution: Captain Stewart should NOT be used around Sectoids.

Christ. At least the flying suits proved their worth. And that mission also proved that M.C. Esher took design commissions from aliens, and that we REALLY need psionics. As soon as the labs are built, I'm screening everyone. Just for an hour each, but enough to tell who not to take on Sectoid missions.

[Saphroneth]

Figures. Hyperwave decoders on May Day!

I should damn well think so.

Medium... on the ground... In Europe...

Erwin, get the interceptor to shoot the damn thing down when it takes off. No way we're fighting inside ANOTHER undamaged Harvester.

This is called "Camping".

Much better.

Recorded in the field.

"Hey, Dalek, check the lay of the land for us."
I OBEY.

YAY SECTOIDS AGAIN. ER, I MEAN, EXTERMINATE!
"Wow, things ARE getting stale. The robot's bored."
I WILL HAVE YOU KNOW I AM A BRITISH CITIZEN OF KALED EXTRACTION IN VERY ODD POWER ARMOUR.
"Hey, who forgot to get reloads for the Rocket Launcher?"

"One use left. I had better make it count."
*Thoom*
"I believe that counted. Now I will use rechargable weapons."
"Hey, look, the UFO!"

"I thought they said this one had been shot down! It looks in perfect nick!"

"Commander, not meaning to be rude, but why did you give Rob the autocannon? I mean, we know he's psionically vulnerable."
"We're in flying suits. Autocannon ammo actually can't hurt these - the ballistic tests were conclusive. We also have laspistols along for the other psi vulnerable members."
"And did you remember to hand them out?"
"...no. We better do that soon."


"There is incoming fire. Also, it looks like the Grey that Robert hit last time was only stunned. It is making a break for it."

"Problem solved. Hey, did you know these suits have an altitude lock setting? It takes a while to disengage, but it steadies the weapon for you in the air!"


"Well remembered, Rob. Autocannon or Laspistol for the psi vulnerable, chaps."
It also allows us to feel important.

Up a bit... there!
"Wow, that's freaky. I just got possessed by Leo and Oscar at once. And man, are they opinionated."
"...I really shouldn't be surprised. So the Autocannon really is posessed."
"Apparently so, it's just that only Leo was psionically strong enough to actually let them communicate."

[Saphroneth]

"I would like to remind the good officers and troopers of XCOM that we are in the middle of a firefight!"

"Calm down, we're just interested."

"Not like there's much else to take our minds off the inevitable psionic attacks."


"Crap, door guard. I have one burst before he notices me, so it had better count."

"Can't miss."


"Colonel Keller here, I will take the western door. Follow me in, Akira - Stun launcher!"
*thoom*
Tough. As. Nails.
"I do not bow to such simplistic tricks!"
"Colonel!"
"Stand back, he is reloading!"
*thoom*

"Walk it off."

"The enemy does not have the same chance."

"Reinforcements have arrived!"
"Hello, private Stoddard. Please revive Akira for me, I believe his medpak is on his belt."
"Yeah, here it is.

Recommended dosage... Eh, I'll just use as much as I can find."
"Gah! Feels like an overdose on coffee and red bull! I feel like I can fly!"
"Jetpack."
"Oh, yeah..."

"I believe the design of the ship can be used to our advantage."

*zap. zap. zap. zap. zap. zap.*

"Told you! Follow me if you can."
"Are the drugs messing with me, Carl?"
"No, Akira. You just saw Colonel Keller ignore six plasma shots to the face."

"Hey, look.
Targets."


At last! Now I can destroy these devils - Oh no. They're wise to us. Can that weapon even HURT them?

"Commander Dagaille here, gentlemen. It's confirmed. The power sources didn't blow. If things had gone less smoothly I'd be annoyed."




"Everyone ready? CHA-"
"Hang on, there's still one out here!"



"Okay, go ahead."

"Bridge cleared. Nice work on the autocannon... er... guys."



"How the hell did we miss THAT one?"

I COULD NOT POSSIBLY COMMENT ON THE INABILITY OF PEOPLE.
LIKE CARL.

"Hey, don't get smart with me!"

Looks like one of the corpses blew up again.

Two days to hyperwave decoder, and the psi labs are under construction.

[Saphroneth]

So we can hear them.
Problem: We don't know the Alien language.
Ah well, Erwin probably learned it from the combat chatter of the Aliens or something.
Yep. I rock.
We do what we must because-
For the love of Pete, SHUT UP GLaDOS!
A yellow substance that forms the solvent in mammalian blood. Oh hang on, wrong science.
I feel more like we're Sci Fi every day. Now we actually have plasma weapons.
I like the sound of this.

Next couple days, things were quiet. The Beijing Decoder worked out that the Tasmania base was a Floater base, thus making the idea of piracy much more viable. And both occasionally released gibberish or strange messages in an alien tongue. Or just disturbing English messages, some not possible in our reality. Example:

I have walked the edge of the Abyss.
I have governed the unwilling.
I have witnessed countless empires break before me.
I have seen the most courageous soldiers fall away in fear.
[I was there with the Angel at the tomb]

I have seen your future.
And I have learned.

There will be no more Sadness. No more Anger. No more Envy.

I HAVE WON.

Oh, and your poet Eliot had it all wrong:
THIS is the way the world ends.

So yeah.
First actual useful intercept we got.

This month's special: Abductions!
We splashed the first UFO over the Middle East, and sent in the team. No need for psi countermeasures as it's Floaters, so we decided to trial the new Heavy Plasmas from our vast stolen stockpile.
And we replaced R2's AI unit with GLaDOS to get her out of the base.

I feel sorry for the people in the field.


Oh, what's that?
"Hey, she found the UFO already. Nice work."
I'm so grateful.

"Goodbye, Floater."

The rocket really is the way to go.
"Another target over here!"

Open fire. Don't spare the explosions.

Unbelievable. You, [subject name here], must be the pride of [subject hometown here]!
"Look, when we get back to base, can we please, at the very least, get her dialogue protocol working?"

"This is the most accurate gun I have ever seen."

"I mean, I practically can't miss! It's like it has a laser dot, but in UV so only you can see it!"

"Ooh, testing target."

Cake and grief counseling will be available at the conclusion of the test.


Thank you for helping us help you help us all.


Ooh, you're that lady from the test. Hi!

"Hey, Alien over the edge of the roof. Uta?"

I stand by what I said earlier. Rockets rock.


"And that's a wrap. Nice work, everyone."
I'm useful.


Apparently Heavy Plasmas don't count as artifacts any more because we can make them. Ah well, burny death to aliens is a nice substitute.

[llearch n'n'daCorna]

*snerk*

[Saphroneth]

***Caution: archive corruption detected. Countermeasures failed. Be advised, this combat report has been partially corrupted by a later one.***
And he cried in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth!" And Lazarus did arise from the grave...I have always believed that faith was measured in deeds, not words. And while many of my children worshipped my name, their deeds betrayed them.
No...

ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn!
Not at the moment, but keep it for later.

Good morning, and welcome to the Black Mesa Transit System. This automated train is provided for the security and convenience of the Black Mesa Research Facility personnel. The time is 8:47 A.M... Current topside temperature is 93 degrees with an estimated high of one hundred and five. The Black Mesa Compound is maintained at a pleasant 68 degrees at all times.
   This train is inbound from Level 3 Dormitories to Sector C Test Labs and Control Facilities. If your intended destination is a high security area beyond Sector C...
Nope.

-High command ordered another terror mission. I say we check the southern middle continent this time.
-Didn't the Snakemen get tasked with that?
-After the demons contained a Chryssalid drop, they're holding off for now.
-And we're supposed to do better with the Reapers? High command hates us.
-Shut up or the BB coming in atmosphere next will hear you and report us!
Bingo!
Do we bother with this one?
Floater terror missions. Yet more evidence there's another Alien race out there. Which hates Floaters.

That's a bit more of a credible threat.
So it's on the same type of mission as the Harvest class ships from earlier. Perhaps they REALLY want to flip off the farmers. At any rate, we're NOT sending an interceptor into that nightmare's gun range.
Troops, on the other hand, are an entirely different story.

Mission record. Tank is CABAL this time.

Kane Lives!

"Commander, I want the Dalek back."

Their deeds betray them!

Though my Steel is wounded, I will carry on in Spirit! For Kane! Peace Through-

"Calm down, Robot. It is but a flesh wound."
I have no impure flesh.
"Then it is a steel wound."

"Man, but this flaw with the rockets is bad. An alien survived this time. Why do we have planar effect explosives again?"
"Ease of use. We fly above them."


"Gah!"

"Handle THAT."
Release the glory?
"I think the camera took a knock there..."

"We have reached the lift. Now, tell me, what do we do next?"
"Er..."
"We clear the way. With rocket launcher."

"And heavy plasma gun."

"And then we send the one with the laspistol and no psi resistance."

"Commander, I'm not so sure this is a good idea..."
"Just poke your head up and tell us what's there."

[Saphroneth]

"Well?"
"Not good."

"Pah! Pah I say! This is what scared you?"
"Colonel!"
"This is the answer."


"You see! Did not even scar the paintwork."

"Damien here, Tango sighted."

"I got your back, buddy."

"Thanks. Good to have someone on the high road... Though I'll be to Scotland first."



"This is the backdoor to the top floor, right?"

"Pretty well guarded, considering."
"Considering what?"
"Considering that Uta blew half the garrison up."
*Ground shakes*
"What was that? Is everyone okay?"

"..."
"Damien! Speak to me! Are you OK, man?"
"...my god."
"What?"
"I hope NEVER to see or feel ANYTHING like that ever again! I actually felt the grav pulse try to pull me in!"

"Looks like the user took himself out instead of me."
"From up here it looks like he killed physics as well..."





"Okay, Grigory, you're our rearguard. Keep a com line open to CABAL, and stop any Greys that might be left on the main deck. We're going psionic hunting."
I shall alert you of any weakness he may suffer due to his imperfect biological nature.



"CTD spotted! Only got one shot at this..."

"YES!"

"One thousand years for the Emperor!"

"BANZAI!"

"He got an enemy leader with the cattle prod. There is hope for him yet."


All points, be on look out for a navigator - I just heard one panicking.
"Got it, Erwin."
"Uta! Pay attention!"
"Sorry, Sir, just confused."

"Ammo does NOT go there."

"There!"

"That's a nice gun. I have one too."

All hail KANE!
"I think we've had too many Sectoids lately. Can we have something less psychic for once?"

"We'll see what shows up next."
We now have far more Elerium than we can use. Unless we find a new use for it.

[Corgatha Taldorthar]

If you have too much elerium, you aren't building enough firestorms

[Saphroneth]

Firestorms? What are they?
If they're some kind of new fighter jet or something, then we're upgrading fighter weapons first, then getting these Psi Amp thingies researched and then we'll have the time for crazy ideas like new fighter jets. Which comes under the New Use clause.
(Seriously, though, 574 Elerium. That's going to keep me going for a bit.)

[Saphroneth]

Almost as soon as the Sky Ranger had landed back at base, the injured Uta was pried out of her flying suit and sent to the infirmary, with one of the sergeants taking her place for the Floater scout taken down in Angola.

While the 'Ranger was in flight, morning broke over the crash site... and the third XCOM base was opened in the US of A.

Harvard refused us. Not that we wanted to go there anyway. So there.

All we need is... Radio XCOM.


Biddle sproing.
"He says he's glad he gets a chance to do something.
"Good to know."


"Correct me if I'm wrong, but I literally can't miss."

"Possible hostile in the orchard. Flatten it."

"No, the rocket goes on the OTHER side of the fence."


"Hoowee, but the Avalanches really did a number on this one."



Bleep!
"What was that?"
"Erm, I think 'sucker!' is closest."


"You know I'm good."


"Sorry, Commander, what was that? I seem to remember you said something about unable to miss."
"Shut up, I'll get him this time."


"I'm not hearing anything else, I think the rest were killed by the crash."

We didn't get much at all from that UFO, it was just too torn up by the crash. Still, any mission you walk away from...
And the labs delivered... something beautiful.

Cue the choir.
It's perfect. 40% more punch than an Avalanche tactical nuclear missile, fully integrable with Interceptor systems, 100 shots per charge... and it recharges from the MAINS.
The prototype melted the top fifty feet off the Matterhorn in under a second when we tested it, it can hit things with pinpoint accuracy from space... Apparently against a supersonic moving target it's only 50% accurate, so standing orders are to fire with space as the backstop - that or ocean - but... Well, just wow.
We are NEVER selling any of these. X-Com will likely rule the planet after the Aliens are defeated, just because of this.
Only known downside is that the Battleship weapons outrange even the Plasma Beam, but then they outranged the Avalanches as well. We're just not going anywhere near the things.

Oh, a supply mission... crap. It's heading away, meaning its' job is done. Ah well.

And as expected, it left atmosphere above Mongolia.
At least if we HAD caught it it would be doomed. All X-Com craft now have Plasma Beams fitted.

Uri Geller, eat your heart out.
Apparently us puny humans need special equipment to make Psionic control a possibility. So we're making these Psi Amps to facilitate that. One per person on 80 Psi and above - apparently, the way the scale works, that's well above any Alien we know about and 90 is getting into the realm of theoretical for Jjaro science. But the lab boys think that those troops who shrugged off psi attack sans training, in the Harvester mission, might be that high. Wishful thinking? We'll find out.
The W'rkncacnter entity, for comparison, is ninety-seven according to the files in the captured battleship. Naturally. And the whole of the city it lives in is one big amplifier.
Here's hoping we never need to deal with it.

Looks like the final type of Alien ship to me.
The pilots love 'em.

Right, Erwin?

All on duty X-Com troops please proceed to the hanger bay.

[Saphroneth]

Mission recording. Ship class Abductor.



We hide in shadows.
"Yeah, that isn't going to work. We have lights. Because Aliens can see in the dark and we can't."

The failings of the as of yet unconverted are no interest to me.
"This is the commander. Sniper support is now set up."

"At least these aren't more damn Sectoids. Ship this big, there would be a Leader on board.

"As it is... Turkey shoot."


"Well, looks like that's an examination table."

"And - CRAP!"

"Shoot it, shoot it, shoot it quick!"
"Someone wanted fire support?"

"Thanks, Commander."

"Hey, some of them are moving around inside."

"One down."

"Eep."
"Rocket away!"

"Damn, looks like some of the loot got blown up. Ah well."

"Everyone ready to enter the upper deck?"
"Sure."

"Just popping a party favour up there first."

"So, what now? Do we go around and look for an entrance?"
"Doors are for rookies."

"Walls are much nicer."

"Stop showing off, Commander, Isao and I are still preparing for our entrance over by the actual lift -"
*Plasma fire*
"What happened? Report!"
"Isao and I got jumped by a Floater. It came down the lift and shot him. I got the bastard before he got me, but Isao's in critical shape. Get the crash team here now!"

End recording.

Isao was actually clinically dead for a couple minutes there, but the crash team managed to save him. The techs even saved the suit.
Though he joins the large number of our troops currently in the medbay. For months.
50 days in his case, 33 for Uta, Dimitry and Tatsuo are back in shape tomorrow.
Still, no actual deaths.

(OOC: The floater was shot by reaction fire in the Alien turn, Isao actually died at the turn end wound calculation... but then no casualties on the mission report, and he is indeed still alive.
Though it looks like he had to be POURED out of the suit.

[Saphroneth]

Neat. Now, get on how we do it.


More abductions. Sectoid this time. Could be more of a problem.
The European interceptor was sent over to handle it.
We lost the contact, but picked up another.

And shot it down.
But I didn't. Care.



Psi screening results as follows, sir.
Alpha Class: Psionically superb assets.
Beta class: High capacity offensive psykers.
Gamma class: Useful second string Psykers.
Delta class: Adequate Psi defence.
Inadequate Psi Defence.
Psi vacuums. Influenced by any attack nearby. Potentially useful as decoys.

Trooper Psi Strength

Robert Steward         39
Uta Keller               75
Jacqueline Dagaille          96
Dmitriy Likhachev          97
Akinori Akira             100
Grigoriy Kolotov          66
Astra Gorokhova         34
Tatsuo Koyama         56
Damien Bailey          85
Isao Yamanaka         32
Carl Stoddard             94
Dwight Crossett         30
Dwight Bryant             39
Leon Revenu             44
Neil Wright             56
James White             80
Samuel McNeil          44
Werner Vogel             65
Gerhard Hafner          75



Base 2
Louis Guerin             9
Kevin McNeil             28
Evelyn Crossett         86
Gaston Dreyfus         54
Jungo Koyama          35
Henri Marcelle          63
Yoko Koyama             81
Tatsuo Noguchi          9
Shigeru Fujimoto          5




(OOC: HOLY CRAP!)

[Noone]

Psi Labs, I remember getting a lot of them...

Anyways, one thing to keep in mind, the guys with low PSI strength scores might still be worth training, as it will help them resist being panicked/berserked and/or taken over. It really sucks to have a tough soldier get taken over and then blast half your squad.

Also, an interesting tactical tip: The computer is too dump to pick up weapons off the ground, so if you have your (or their taken over guys) throw their weapons, the AI won't pick them back up again and they'll be effectively neutralized.

[techmaster-glitch]

Apparently us puny humans need special equipment to make Psionic control a possibility. So we're making these Psi Amps to facilitate that. One per person on 80 Psi and above - apparently, the way the scale works, that's well above any Alien we know about and 90 is getting into the realm of theoretical for Jjaro science. But the lab boys think that those troops who shrugged off psi attack sans training, in the Harvester mission, might be that high. Wishful thinking? We'll find out.
The W'rkncacnter entity, for comparison, is ninety-seven according to the files in the captured battleship. Naturally. And the whole of the city it lives in is one big amplifier.

Jacqueline Dagaille          96
Dmitriy Likhachev          97
Akinori Akira             100

You've got yourself a couple of demigods on your hands, don't you?

[Saphroneth]

Yes. Yes I do.

That's why I threw in the bit about T'Leth being an amplifier. Otherwise Akira, Dmitriy and Jackie could all MC the planet.
Think of it this way. Humans have Psi Amps the size of a fist.
The W'rkncacnter has a Psi Amp the size of a city.
Scared yet?

Of course, in the GitP Lets' Play of X-Com, there were a lot of jokes about ALL HAIL THE TENGU-TEMP when one of theirs had a perfect score.
He also turned out to be the ruler of Mega Primus (former as of Apocalypse), and most notably to be stoppable only by Alex Knight. The man who thwacked Chryssalids.
They had their share of superhumans over there too.


http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=6488269&postcount=589
Example joke.

[Corgatha Taldorthar]

With scores like that, you might want to consider starting a third team and splitting your psis up. I never really felt I needed more than 2 for any particular mission. (Except Cydonia, which is a bit special)

[Saphroneth]

Given my "Injury that results in Traction" rates, I'll probably rotate people in and out of the active team.
That said, the LBL base in California will need troops, perhaps once the Psi Corps have got a bit of practice I'll send someone over there to shepherd the Newbs.

I just hope that the Far East base doesn't get the Sectoids for a Terror Mission or something.
Though all psi attacks could be dealt with by giving the problem three Cattle Prods and nothing else...


And yes, Cydonia is pretty nasty. High Psi helps a lot (and in that game I had a 86/104 Psyker, named Keaton - coincidence, I swear - and at least two Psi 95+), but I've only done it once.
By Blaster Bomb cheese.
Expect much death and explosions.

At least it's not T'Leth...

[Toric]

A character named Akira with unrivaled psionic potential. ....This will NOT end well. Just be glad Tatsuo has such a low score.

[Saphroneth]

So you're telling me we don't have the commander for a few days?"
"Yeah. Apparently the psi test messed up the top scorers a bit. They'll be back in under a week."
"Pity who turned out to be the ranking officer this mission. *sigh* Orders, sir?"

Engage and neutralize target. For the brotherhood!

My systems are compromised. Reverting to command and control mode only. Defend me with your last breaths!
"Little zlodniks! So many of them around the skyranger."

Good work. Now, achieve revenge in my name!


"For goodness' sake, is there ANY alien left in that ship?"

"I am beginning to think not."


On my mark... Charge! Kane requires it!

"UFO clear. Heh, they're a lot less tough when they're not psionic, am I right?"

Record ends.
Good field officer, that CABAL, even if he is now having plasma removed from his primary camera units.

Oh, that looks like the Floater Terrorists we were expecting. Hmmm... The Floater scout we bounced a week or so back was buzzing around the Congo...
Erwin, order the interceptor pilot at the base to Kinshasha. I have a hunch.


In flight radio.
"Man, I'm bored. It's been five hours, command, can't I RTB soon?"
"Not until the UFO either shows up on radar or we get the call for action on the ground."
"Yeah, I hear you. I just get tired of seeing the same old green, that's all."

"Whoah! I just picked up a big bastard! Heading straight for Kinshasha! Closing to Plasma range."

"HECK yeah! That made a hole. And there go the power supplies."
"Nice work, hot shot. You get your RTB now, by the way."
"Thanks, command. Out."
Transcript ends.



Now to find out what they look like on the inside. Or what's left of it.

[Saphroneth]

While the skyranger waited for the launch order, one of the scientists still doing science (as opposed to engineering, soldiering or selling on high tech equipment and alien corpses to what we all hoped to be different sources) contacted me with his latest work.

Project FIRESTORM. You'd never believe it took only a week.

This was the sort of fighter that could at the very least survive a Battleship return salvo, perhaps even do some damage. Five times as tough, twice as fast and three times as agile as the old Interceptor, the only problem was that the craft was incapable of long patrols - such as were so successful that very evening.

But enough of that. Next morning the 'Ranger touched down in the Congo. No Umbongo was aboard.

You know the drill.
"Terror ship, bad. No civilians to get killed, good. Blown power source on the UFO, better. Floaters, better still."
Ooh! Look over there!

"Astra?"
"I'm all over it."

"Heeey, two for one. Not bad, As."

"More over here."

"Reaper. Why are they called that?"
"Because they primarily attack humanity by eating their wheat. We think the Alien leaders hate Floaters."
Hey, look! A door. And it's big enough for me!


"What's in there, man?"

"Floater, and a meatshield."
"Not a problem."

"Man, but heavy plas rocks."

Hey, that's cheating!

Meet mister Laser! Peyow!

"That's our entry route sorted. Up we go, everyone."

"WHO MISSED THIS?"



"There's the leader. Fire at will."


I am beginning to suspect that Floater terror missions are intended to terrorize the Floaters.
Though we did get a live Reaper out of it. It is apparently now known as Bessie.


They're back for more.

Whoa. Deja vu.
The interceptors were vectored in to catch the enemy ships, and the Sky Ranger reloaded with more rockets (after a brief dispute in stores)


There are UFO navigation units all over the place! In my bed! In the shower! Get some of them out of here!

With both Abductors shot down, a dilemma presented itself. We couldn't hit both sites in one go, because the equipment recovered in two crashes would overload the Sky Ranger. But we also could not hit them on successive days - chances were the Aliens would have left the area and demo charged the UFO.
So we ordered simultaneous strikes.


Oh yeah, we have a second platoon, right. Forgot.

[Saphroneth]

The first Ranger to touch down was the Beijing base one.


As it was to turn out, the Floaters had picketed the crash site.

Just not very well.




Leela managed to stop another Floater which appeared to be attempting to flank the main body of the squad.
But once the UFO itself was reached, it was once again a game of toss the rocket launcher. Two Floaters in the same room was too much to pass up, and one of the troops was in a perfect position to put in heavy fire.

As it was to turn out, the same blast also got a third Floater that was out of sight.


Gaston used the recently acquired knowledge of the high power of the Heavy Plasma to blast a path through the interior walls, and the former rocket man (now on his backup weapon) killed the presumed Floater leader.



The last few seconds of the mission were a confused firefight in the corridors of the ship,

with the humble Laspistol proving superior at close range due to the incredibly short cycle time of the capacitor.




All of which was ample evidence that team China hadn't lost their touch. Though they did ask for some flying suits if it wasn't too much trouble.

[llearch n'n'daCorna]

... Killed 9, recovered 10 corpses.

Erm. Are they committing suicide on sight or something?

[Corgatha Taldorthar]

Usually, it indicates that one or more died in the crash. However, aliens accidentally shooting each other does  happen, especially when they bring explosives into the mix. Explosives can cause the factor to go the other way, leaving kills but no corpses.

[Saphroneth]

Believe you me, when aliens start committing suicide on sight, either the war is all but won or the Psi training is complete.
Same thing, really.

[Saphroneth]

Recorded material.
"Just got the message from Beijing base command. They have done with their mission. We're next."
"Got it. Okay, everyone ready?"
I am more than ready. I am eager.



E-LE-VATE!
*plasma fire*
I BARELY EVEN GOT THIS BODY! REVENGE ON ALL FLOATERS!

*Lots of plasma fire*
"Cripes, don't go too far. Those things are worth €15K."


"Okay, we've located the ship."

NO ENTRANCE THIS SIDE.

ENGAGE RED LEVEL PROTOCOL!

FLOATERS MUST ALL DIE.
I FEAR I MAY NO LONGER PARTICIPATE. TAKE MY VENGEANCE TO THE UPPER FLOORS!
"Well, at least he likes the new tank model."



"Hello there."

"Someone melt the wall for me, and I volunteer to go first."

"Heh, eat this!"


"...well, I'm not complaining."
End recording.

So yes, the field test of the hovertank class HWP went down well.
At the month end, the psi labs started their full training regimen, the money and results of the funding nations' opinions of us went out,
I think the double mission impressed them, though it may have annoyed the Floaters.
and the statistical summary of the war so far went out.

Graphs.
Graphs.
Graphs.
Graphs.
Graphs.
Graphs.

A UFO we were unable to catch while in hyperwave range boded ill.
Sectoid terror mission? Ouch.

And a small scout was blasted into the ground in the Sahara. The melt glass from the missed shots of the interceptor is already on sale in tourist shops.
Good to have a small ship for once.

[Saphroneth]

"Okay, everything's ready for the final test. Capacitors fully charged, containment holding, target in position."
"Ah, here's the Brigadier."

I walked into the secret demonstration chamber for the new Plasma Beam weapon. The far wall was studded with impact craters from laser cannon fire and the odd tiny dent from the regular cannon by way of comparison.
"Everything ready, then?"
"Yes, sir. We have it set for a single pulse downrange, and the Alien Alloy defensive wall is up, if you'd like to get over behind it."
I watched through the polarized window as the two hundred foot proof of concept Plasma Beam was aligned with the target, the side of one of the UFOs recently recovered fairly nearby. A scout, I think.
"Three, two, one..."
The world went green.

One of the scientists was mumbling about better shielding the emitter to prevent flare, but I was too busy blinking frantically to listen.
When the massive flash of light's effects on my eyes had died down, I looked through the window again to see how effective it had been.
The target was no longer there. There was a gaping hole in the side of the test area. And what could be recognized only by the outline of the lower slopes and our location as the famed Matterhorn was slowly slumping, the mass amount of heat having apparently rendered the mountain's upper slopes into lava.
"Right, gentlemen, I think that's a successful test. Just... next time, find somewhere else to point that thing. Maybe part of the Empty Quarter of Arabia or something..."

[Saphroneth]

"Hey, we're pretty close to this thing."

THE INTERIOR OF THE CRAFT IS RUINS. AND I THINK THE PLASMA BEAM WENT THROUGH THE ROOF. WHY IS THERE ANYTHING STILL ALIVE?
"That's a question we've all asked at one time or another."

"Of course, the best way to handle it is to solve the inconsistencies."


"I love these half exploded ships. There are far fewer aliens."

That mission was as close to routine as things get.

As time passed, the research division came up with something new.

Sorry? Project LIGHTNING is this? Feh. Deathtrap. Not as if UFOs are going anywhere...

Mutons? Not heard of them before.

Sadly we lost track of the scout over the Indian ocean.


Now the US is covered too. That ought to help.


Now THIS is more like it. Look at that thing. It's beautiful. Arm it with twin plasmas and it could down a battleship. Granted, the repairs would take a month and a half...
Oh, and after that we started wondering how to stop the UFOs. We had the craft, presumably (the Avenger was conjectured to be able to reach Jupiter) but we didn't have the location or the necessary advantages.

So we started on that first one.
Hee hee. "Losing battle." We have troops that survived a Blaster Bomb.
And you'd think they'd remember that we already HAVE a leader.

The sole defender of the US base is here. She exists to turn on tanks.
This is about halfway to the opening of the US base as fully fledged. The Interceptor and plasmas were delivered this morning.
Not shown: Psi in the 20s.


Sectoids. Again.
Hmmm... Perhaps a test. Those Psi Amps we made, let's see if they work with the training you have.
If not, just shoot the Sectoids.

[Corgatha Taldorthar]

Actually, the Lightning isn't too shabby. Yeah, it's not the Avenger (what is), and it can't carry as much as a skyranger, but it won't take up 5-6 hundred grand a month in rent fees, and perhaps most importantly, it's the only craft in the game which allows for multiple debarkation points. I *hate* getting pinned down in the skyranger, and it seems to happen a lot when the Ethereals come to town. A lightning is fast enough to catch a lot of their ships, and when you down them and bring a squad in (cuz, lets face it, a lightning with a single plasma beam can stop anything short of a battleship. Plasma beams stomp ALL), you have a flexible attack platform.

[Saphroneth]

My main problems with it are:

There is no room for HWPs. And those are really useful scouts, as by now I have half a dozen people I do NOT want to die.
The multi exit thing is a clipping problem.
It expends Elerium. Yes, I know I'm swimming in the stuff after the battleships and harvesters, but there you go.
And finally, you get the Avenger so soon after it that you won't have more than a couple weeks use from the thing before its' infinitely better replacement rolls out. In fact, you'll still be building the Lightning when the Avenger becomes available.
To avoid a monthly fee of 500K by spending 600K, 18K shop hours and one each Power source and Navigation (330K if sold) seems a bit excessive to me, as it tallies to two months rent plus all the laser cannons you could have built.

[Saphroneth]

Not much to say about the scout mission.

James somehow saw something that was around a corner.

Akira got in some long range sniping practice.

And tried out his new Psi Amp. Without having finished the training course. He claimed he was attempting "trial and error." Well, he got error.






Thank goodness our other troops are more reasonable. Maybe we shouldn't have told them their scores.


Well, anyway, the captured Leader from earlier was most helpful.
Single points of failure are nice. We have a panacea target to hit.
Mars. Okay, we know the right planet, and the Avenger can certainly make it. We also know where to get a Commander if we really need one for the Base coordinates. But we still need a fully trained Psi Corps.

Oh, these will help, though.
200. And the HE packs the size of a man's arm are 110. Not to mention that the Blaster is deliberately contained to avoid too much collateral.
These things could punch through a UFO outer wall.

New guests. Mutons, apparently. What does that even mean?
Well, the scout was downed. And the Sky Ranger just barely made it in navigable light.

Next on the XCom show: First Contact with Plasma!