Christ, barely three days before a bloody terror mission. And bloody in the other sense as well. I'm in my bunk now after possibly the longest day of my life. Both my brain and my muscles are shot. It seemed as if that fight was never going to end... and it's so hard to fight these enemies ruthlessly. But I felt a breakthrough today, and that was when I saw what they had done to the citizens of this Maldive Island. Maldiverna... always wanted to go there some day. Now I just want to forget about the visit.
In retrospect, I see it was a good lesson however. They are set on threatening our existence in every way they can. It's just like the stories dad has told me since I was initiated; they are engineered to do naught but wage war. Then I can see how their intelligence is completely wasted, for what good is that if you can not construct and build in the spirit of prosperity and love?
We will strike back with equal ferocity. Humans have been through hell and back, and we have adapted. This is just a new threat, but the premises remain the same. We will strike back with steel and sound in place of club and rocks, and we will drive them back.
I can not allow them to threaten the population any further. Every human is my kin and my friend, and I will give my life defending them. I thank my father for a lot of the strength I need in this. He will guide my hand, and the Nilsson family will continue carrying this burden until it is no longer needed.
Personal Log
January 24, 2040
Seaman Jack Diamond, X-Com, Maritime Division, Sniper
I didn't think we'd see civilians get dragged into this war this fast. I mean granted, the aliens had attacked Seafaring vessels before, but I wasn't expecting an assault on dry ground. Perhaps our full mobilization has forced whatever is in charge these beasts to step up their plans, whatever they may be. While I was a bit skeptical in using our underwater-based arsenal on land, the equipment worked as well as could be expected and we saved as many people as we could without getting them caught in the crossfire or losing a soldier. I still would've preferred a plasma weapon or something, even if they are "old" technology.
Strangely I didn't see any Aquatoids attacking the island. Perhaps they can only operate underwater. the Researchers haven't given us anything conclusive yet. In the meantime I can only speculate what manner of creature they sent to The Maldives. Doesn't seem too tough, though some of them took a good number of shots to put down. I'm still not happy that I didn't take my only kill of this mission down with one harpoon, but I'm sure I'll get plenty of chances to improve my aim as the campaign continues.
All I know is that whoever is leading these attacks, the tactics have not changed from 40 years ago. They still seek to kill humans wherever they can, and we'll have to fight them all the way to the source to truly stop this.
They hit a resort today. My aim held up on land, and I scored three kills. I'm keeping this entry short, I want to spend as much time as I can down on the range.
Accessing kill records
kill records
subject:"Dekkarax"
Aquatoids:0
Alien type 2:0
Alien type 3:0
Statues:1
attached note(s):
I don't have to pay for that do I?-Dekkarax
If you're feeling guilty about it you can wash the dishes for the next 12 months.-Command
Originator: TheJrade
Recipient: Science Team Head
CC: Admiral von Schwine, Base Workshop Coordinator
Research Team Memo: New rifle ready for prime time!!
Success!! Finally cracked the capacitance feedback problem on the magnetic accelerator rifle. We should be ready to start producing them at the base workshops in a matter of days and have them in the hands of our aquanauts soon after that. They're better than the Harpoon rifles in every way, notably their rapid-fire capability.
The only problem left is what to call them? How about naming them after that german mathematician, the one would did all the early work with electrostatics... what was his name?
Underwater and underpaid,
TheJrade
P.S. I know the figures on plasma performance underwater, but is elerium SO hard to come by these days that we can't get clearance to use plasma weapons on the dry missions? Just a thought!
Another mission. Fuckers hit land this time. My folks aren't too far from the Maldives - I'm not gonna let the bastards touch my family.
Think the fact that this mission hit closer to home helped everyone. The squad definitely improved over last time - even Hagurashi and Garros-Shits weren't as much of a pain as a few days ago.
For a while, I thought that Haggie was an alien sympathizer - certain way she talked about them annoyed me. Didn't see any of that today, which is good.
We don't need alien-lovers. We need to fuck them up so bad they'll never come back. I wish I wasn't assigned to the assault team - close combat with the tazer's good enough, but I don't get to kill any of them. Too bad. As long as our prisoners give us information, I'm fine with my position.
Gotta go work out with Raven del Cid. He's not bad; kind of a gun nerd, but does well enough.
Personal Log - 003/a
Concerning the Maldivian Incident.
Raven del Cid. Maritime Division: Assault squad
Well, that was unexpected. The surface mission kept everyone on their toes. I can't believe we all made it back after those intense firefights, with harpoon guns no less. Damn, we need some new weapons soon. I'm sure our success is down to skill and teamwork but luck is a factor here and I don't how long it will be on our side. We sure are going to need some breakthroughs if we are to keep up with these alien scums. Seeing civilian casualties is not the easiest thing in the world, but we had to do what we did, else we would have lost control of the situation. I dread to think of the consequences if that happens.
Overall, I think things are shaping up nicely. The teams are settling in nicely, for once I didn't see or hear of any grumblings between Shanks and Higs. Hope that lasts!. Personally, I almost had a few close calls back at the hotel but Zed had my back. Nice to know there is someone I can depend on when the chips are down.
First land mission today. I don't think I bagged a single bleedin' one of 'em that mission, but it didn't matter, as we stopped them from achieving anything other than five deaths. Hardly a meaningful loss for our side.
I'm still complaining about our equipment load out to command though. Harpoon guns? Underwater I just about stomach them, as I understand that we don't have anything else to use (Though I hear that R&D are working on something that doesn't suck quite as hard) But on land? Christ command! We do have normal guns, don't we? And any of the old alien tech from the first war? WE could use that! Certainly would have helped us clear them out faster.
Oh well. I'm going down to look at what the techheads are working on. See if I can get my hands on a prototype or something.
Since my arrival I had been wondering, was the small number of aliens we encountered due to them not being fully active, or was it down to our ability to detect them. Hopefully, my question would soon find an answer, as a long range sonar facility was brought online.
This would double our detection radius, allowing us to hopefully detect and track more enemy vessels, improving our detection and intercept rate.
Around this time, I also recieved an odd memo from an overexcited member of our science division. I felt it necessary to make some reply.
From: Admiral von Schwein
To: list.sciencediv
Ladies and Gentlemen, I appreciate the passion you have for your subject, however please remain focused on the task at hand, understanding the weapons of our enemy takes priority over any personal projects you may have been involved in prior to joining X-Com.
The distraction was shortlived however, our new sonar facilities began to prove their worth, detecting an alien vessel in the far North Sea.
The contact alarm blared once more, and the metallic sounds of the sea doors cycling to admit a Barracuda launch resounded through the base. I left my office and made my way to the observation deck, on the way I encountered Ensign Higurashi, off duty for this mission.
"Can't stay too far from the action, Ensign?"
"Sir, was just on my way back from science division, hoping to catch a peek at the new equipment they're developing. One of them was carrying on about railguns and electromagnetics as a solution to our firepower problem".
"It's been a popular subject for a few years now, the next generation of projectile weapons they were calling it. Not so good underwater though, still get drag problems, and still subject to deflection on a well armoured target. The alien weapon systems appear to be based on some kind of concentrated sonic burst, travels very well in water and almost as well in air, and it's hard for armour to deflect it. It's better to focus on getting those guns into our hands than expensive pet projects"
"Understood sir. Hope they can get it going soon. We need every edge we can get"
I continue on my way, reaching the observation deck and settling in to wait for the interception. A few miles from intercept, the alien vessel appears to notice it has a tail, and turns to track along the coast of Iceland. I authorise the Barracuda pilot to go to full aggressive stance and engage at will, and he closes with the alien swiftly, loosing his torpedoes as soon as he reaches optimal range.
"Enemy's holed sir, she's going to the bottom."
"Thank you Barracuda, head home, Triton is on her way for retrieval".
The Triton was already in the water and pressure normalised, waiting for the go command. I gave it, and the base shuddered once more as the sea doors cycled. When underwater, one becomes very aware that one is encased in metal and rock.
The wait for the Triton to arrive at the crash site seems interminable, but arrive it does, and the battle begins almost as soon as it touches down. The Coelacanth leaves the transport and comes under immediate enemy attack.
Damaged heavily once more, I silently thank the designers for the tough modular armour which can easily be swapped out between missions. The complication of this mission becomes quickly evident when the weapons platform's sensors cannot detect the alien that fired upon it. The alien vessel had crashed in deep water, and it was dark above the waves.
Zed and Raven del Cid disembarked and threw flares in the general direction of the shots, managing to illuminate the firer.
Even with the assistance of light, it is difficult to hit the target, and several shots go wide until Lt. Bling Cat manages to land a harpoon in the creature's chest.
The team continue to disperse flares to illuminate the sea floor, until Zed spots another alien to the north.
"They can see better than us in this murk, get in cover behind those rocks" came Lt. Bling Cat's order, "Dekkarax and Numlock Fury, flank wide and take it from long range."
Zed, Squeak, and one of the reserve aquanauts dove into cover with a rocky wall between them and the alien, and Dekkarax moved quietly west at the limits of visual range. He lined up using the flarelight and loosed an explosive bolt. The small charge caught the alien dead centre and shredded it, staining the sea with ichor and viscera.
As the team swept east they encountered the wreck of the alien vessel, holed once more and with significant internal damage. Covered from the breach, Raven del Cid stormed the main hatch, surprising an alien which had been in the wetlock chamber.
Well equipped and increasingly formiddable in close quarter combat, del Cid made short work of the small creature, stunning it for pickup.
Meanwhile, crossing the body of the UFO, Numlock Fury entered the aftmost door to the port blister, coming face to face with an alien inside.
Such a close encounter on his first deployment caused the man to pause for a second, but he was still able to react faster than the alien, cycling the trigger on the harpoon gun and sending steel shafts through the creature's leg and torso.
Movement in the water at the edge of the flarelight caused Squeak to turn, thinking he had seen another alien moving stealthily towards the squad. He called for more flares, and Jack Diamond was able to oblige. There was indeed an alien there.
Squeak nodded to himself and crouched to sight on the target, which was panicking at being revealed. Its panic was cut short by a barbed harpoon destroying its face, spinning it round and leaving it broken on the seabed.
Over the course of a tense half hour, the squad quartered and searched the rest of the LZ, finding nothing, and so they called in the cleanup crew and returned to the Triton for extraction.
As I looked back on my first month at X-Com, I became increasingly aware that our current facilities would be woefully insufficient. Our enemy could strike anywhere, at any time, and we would have to meet his challenge. We would need much greater sonar coverage of the world's oceans, a return to the days of the First Cold War, when a whale couldn't fart without someone hearing it.
The urgency of the project, as well as the results it had shown, were beginning to make themselves known in our funding nations as well.
We would need their support, but the income they provided would never be enough, I knew that now. We would have to arrange some other way to support the project. Barely had I finished mulling over this new problem when a hesitant knock came at my office door.
"Enter"
One of the science team walked in, one of the eager young ones, apt to go haring off in a hundred theoretical directions at the drop of a hat. The nametag on his uniform read "TheJrade"
"Sir, we've had a breakthrough! We've cracked the biometrics on the alien weapons, and we've managed to get enough of their operating mechanisms worked out to start building our own. The only black box left is their power source"
"Well then, that should be your next project. I expect the next memo sent to the whole damn project to be about your success in delivering me a working power clip."
"Ehm.. Yessir. Though I was wondering if you'd considered the use of electromagnetics, railguns sir".
"Oh yes. But have you ever fired a high speed projectile underwater? As your speed goes up, so does your drag coefficient, means you can't get any penetration, and accuracy's barely better than a low velocity harpoon. We're better off with these weapons. We're a small unit fighting a big war, we have to think like an insurgency, turn the enemy's weapons against him, seize what we can, improvise what we can't."
"Understood sir"
Our weapons to date had been woefully insufficient for the task. That would change, and soon.
Gauss weapons are one step shy of fucking useless. They're not terribly accurate, and quite a lot of aliens have resistance to them, and late game ones basically ignore them completely. Of course, the weapons we've got right now are fucking useless
There was no room for me in the sub this time. Kind of a relief even if it feels like it was too long since I saw some action. But such is the life here; we can get dreadfully boring and long days that never seem to end, and then BAM, we have to rush our asses off.
Too bad we're not betting on gauss weapons; they're just so badass. But I know the general is right, they'd be wildly ineffective under water. On land, however... mmm... Anyway, what I'm hoping for is some way to get closer to the buggers. That's what I'm used to. Shredding them up with my own two hands and a good knife or something. I feel my fingers longing for that distant sensation, because it has been too long. Getting somewhat restless here, it seems. I have a pretty high tolerance to that, but I am feeling it creep unto me. I'll just head down to the gym and find a sparring partner to beat up.
That and books are just about the only thing I have to do here. Oh, and writing. Letters, poems, short stories... at least my inspiration isn't stagnant when I'm here, but the themes seem to be inevitably influenced by this closed up environment and the sea. I love the sea though, I do. Okay, I obviously don't have much to write. Back to fictional writing.
-Higs, the slightly bored elite soldier. Tasty irony.
Just got back to base from my first mission. I Have never been so scared in my life, my hands are still shaking. I rounded a corner and came face to face with one of the alien bastards; but the funny thing is he seemed as startled to see me as I was startled to see him. It was like we saw each other and for the briefest of seconds both of us knew that only one of us was walking away form that moment alive.
I?m here telling you this so you can guess who came of second best. But despite the fact I can?t stop my hand from shaking, I feel like every single second I live now is just borrowed time. There was no way I was ready for that close encounter, it kind of makes me doubt my skill at anything. I look on at envy at Raven del Cid who seems almost eager to get up close and personal with the little bastards and beat them down. Maybe I should ask him for a few pointers.
Any way, Think I might take a shower to try and calm my nerves and pray for a bit; see if that helps calm me down.
Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the lord.
Personal Log - 003/b
Alien engagement, North Sea
Raven del Cid. Maritime Division: Assault squad
Yet another alien contact occurred today, I am beginning to wonder if this cycle will ever end. We go, we fight, we come back and it starts all over again, if we are lucky it'll be a new day. In all honesty, I am pleasantly surprised at how we keep emerging victorious despite our obvious technological handicap. I suppose it comes down to the pure human willpower and the courage for survival that drives us for perfection. The team is quite the well oiled machine since coming under Lieutenant Bling Cat III, and everyone is performing admirably. Even on his first deployment, Numlock Fury showed exceptional skill at close combat fighting, he may be a bit rough around the edges but that's something that experience will rectify.
I only hope the Admiral has some plans for upgrading our current weapons. I am still at wits end, dreading the potential deployment on the surface, where our weapons are even less effective than underwater. I heard talks about a new rifle through the grapevine, but nothing official has been declared to my knowledge. I sure hope the boffins at the science labs hurry the hell up with their research. We are, so far keeping up with these alien lifeforms as it is, but god knows what will happen if we run into something else.
One more kill to add to my record. The mission went smoothly, except for Numlock's close call. But he made it out unharmed, if shaken. He seems on edge lately, I may need to keep an eye on him.
In other news, Higs and Shanks have avoided screwing us up thus far. Lieutenant Cat is to credit for that, no doubt. And Higs wrote a poem about fish. I like fish.
Urgh, now I'm hungry. I'll go grab lunch and head down to the range again. No use falling behind in my training and getting killed.
It's odd, but I seem to have moderate success with Gauss weapons, right now I'm in the late parts of the game and my teams are a combination of gauss rifle wielding scouts and Sonic cannon armed snipers/heavy weapons; I find this to work quite well, as people with sonic cannons are slow (I usually set my troops to reserve a snap shot), so my gauss troops can root out threats to them; they also are good for mixed crew missions, as I waste less precious Sonic ammunition on Aquatoids that way.
It did not take long for the science division to check over the alien weapon's power pack. It was obvious how to insert the device into the weapon, but their study paid off nonetheless. The power packs were booby trapped, intentionally designed to short circuit and fuse the weapon into uselessness if a certain set of locks were not deactivated on inserting.
With this last obstacle overcome, I approved the weapon for field use. The limited supply of salvaged sonic rifles and ammunition prompted me to limit their initial development to the sniper team, Jack Diamond and Squeak, and the two were ordered to report to the range to check out on the new tools.
Routine began to set in once more, with the alarms quiet once more for almost two weeks. Excitement over the new weapons appearing to mute tensions in the squad for the time being. The seeming peace did not last, however, as the warning klaxon began it's wailing tune, and the first opportunity to use the alien weapons in live combat presented itself.
Like X-Com's flying submarines, the alien vessels were capable of flight, presumably using similar antigravity techniques. I gave the launch order to the Barracudas, and they hurtled out of the base to intercept. The alien vessel maintained high speed over the Atlantic, and briefly evaded contact in flight over Brazilian Union airspace, however, it was redetected on the Pacific coast, and the Barracuda moved in for intercept.
"Target in range, profile's smaller than the ones we've been engaging"
"Recieved Barracuda, we'll send your sonar data for analysis, you're cleared for firing"
"Aye sir, torpedoes away"
The small craft proved nimble, evading much of the blast from the first volley of torpedoes, but a second hit it squarely, and it tumbled unceremoniously to the ocean floor. The barracuda reported the success of it's attack, and I cleared it to return whilst the Triton launched.
The alien vessel had crashed in a clear area, with few obstacles save the uneven ocean floor itself. Lt. Bling Cat ensured the team was ready.
"Open ground this time folks, not a lot of cover, be wary of long range attacks"
"Perfect for testing out the new hardware" was Squeak's reply.
The team began to move out, cautiously aware of the possibility that the enemy might spot them at any moment. As it happened though, Zed was the first to report contact.
"Target in the open, he's making for high ground".
"I see him" chimed in Jack Diamond "Let's see what this baby can do". A whining hum followed by a sharp pop came from the new sonic rifle, and the team felt the displaced water as the dense sonic energy packet streaked out to hit the small creature. It's body jolted as if hit by a car, rather than a bullet.
A small ridge seperated the Triton from the crashed alien vessel. Zed began to move along it to get a vantage point overlooking the wreck, when he spotted another alien to the north.
"Second target, trying to surprise us around the ridge, eyes north".
The creature seemed to be aware that it had been spotted, it picked up speed, moving quickly through the water. Jack Diamond fired again, but unused to firing at moving targets with the new weapons lead the alien by too much, his shot flying wide. Dekkarax followed up the sniper's attack with an explosive bolt, which exploded next to the alien, sending it tumbling through the ocean, coming to rest in the blast crater.
"Diamond, Squeak, take the high ground, get an angle with those guns." Came Bling Cat's order.
"Aye" chorused the snipers. They began to move to the crest of the ridge, commanding the battlefield with overlapping lines of fire.
It wasn't long after the snipers settled in to position that Raven del Cid, in the northeast sector of the battlefield, spotted the final target.
He signalled it's position to Squeak, and the sonic rifles claimed another victory.
The team turned to the alien vessel, expecting to have to enter and assault it, but closer inspection revealed that this was unnecessary. The torpedoes had done the job already, the interior was a smoking ruin, nothing inside had survived, even the hull was shattered.
After the mission, I called the sniper team in for a debriefing on the new weapons.
"Gentlemen, your thoughts?"
Jack Diamond was first to reply.
"These are very impressive weapons. The aliens must have been planning underwater combat for a long time, they're far better than the harpoon guns. Take a bit of adjusting to though, I'm used to a harpoon going faster in air than water, but these guns the shot goes faster in the water than it did on the range in the air"
Squeak interjected
"Sound goes faster in water, denser medium. It's almost the perfect principle for an unguided weapon underwater. Never thought it would be practical though".
Jack spoke again.
"These things are powerful too. Three times the power of our harpoons, at least. Probably more powerful than the cannons, barring the explosives. I hate to say this, but our luck probably won't hold, and I don't see a man being hit by this and coming out of it alive."
"Understood gentlemen. I will have the science division turn their minds to the problem of protecting a man underwater as soon as we have a complete picture of our enemy's offensive capabilities."
They use sonic energy, so whatever whe hit gets flattened like a pancake! Much more accurate, but our enemy has them too. Me and Jack are the only ones with them right now.
We also got to meet the commander face-to-face, he wanted a report on the "Sonic Blasters", as the science division is calling them. He said he's going to try and get us some armor.
Anyway, I'm going to test my blaster some more, on both the air and the water ranges.
*Log end*
Side Note: I refuse to call it a "Sonic Blasta". It sounds retarded.
Personal Log
February 13, 2040
Seaman Jack Diamond, X-Com Maritime Division, Sniper
Stupid name aside, the Sonic Blasta Rifle is definitely a step up from our harpoon based weaponry. I'm still getting used to leading shots a bit differently, but once that happens I don't see many aliens surviving a shot from this. I'm also glad the General has considered that we need new armor to counteract the aliens' weaponry. While being in the back of the field presents less threat to getting shot, I'd rather not have to bring anybody back in a box if it can be avoided.
Oh God, is it too late to join in again? I didn't realize there was another X-Com RP going until I randomly checked GloatingSwine's profile again today. If there's still room, make space for Dalton "Doomsly" McSlaughter JR. He's dying for some violent alien massacres, just like pappy! As an aside, Doomsly Jr. Shares his father's love for all weapons heavy. If this is not an option, however, anything that kills will do the trick.
--++Personal Log++--
February 13, 2040
Seaman Roland Garros-Shanks, X-Com Maritime Division, Heavy Weapons
Watch the flanks. Big guns ready. Cover the movement. Watch the flanks.
Haven't even loosed a harpoon last few missions. Haven't felt like writing.
Luck, y'know? I saw those sonic 'blastas'. I saw them in action. And its dumb bloody luck. Thats the only reason no ones gone down yet.
That or maybe whatever commands the xenos are slogging us with the damn fool reject aliens first up. It won't last forever though, you can only hedge for so long.
Still, the tech is brilliant. If we can salvage enough of them... make the aliens rely on luck for a change maybe.
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