~Beyond the Border~ > Rumia's Party Games
Undefined Fantastic Object: Enemy Unknown (Let's Play X-COM!)
Tamer Anode/Cathode:
X-COM: UFO Defense (also known as UFO: Enemy Unknown and X-COM: Enemy Unknown in Europe) is a turn-based tactics game released by Microprose in 1994. Due to its atmosphere and unique gameplay aspects, it became a quick bestseller and garnered several sequels and spinoffs during the rest of the 1990s, although none are considered to have surpassed the original. Even today, the original X-COM finds its place on top ten lists by gaming publications and websites, and rights-holder 2K is planning a reboot (cue the RUINED FOREVER).
Welcome to the global Extraterrestrial Combat Unit, also known as X-COM.
Let me tell you right now: aliens exist, and they are active on our planet right now. Abductions, mutilations, strange airborne activity; some would be content to call this coincidence or conspiracy theory, but we have confirmed something is out there, although we aren't clear on the what. Several nations have attempted to tackle this threat on their own to no avail; the most prolific failure was Japan's Kiryu-Kai force, which was active for six months without a single successful intercept.
With it obvious that no one nation could handle the alien activity on their own, several representatives met near the end of 1998 to fund an international organization. The scope of our mission goes beyond any government (and before any of you refer to those useless schmucks in Wales in my presence, keep in mind that I have my sidearm with me and you haven't been assigned a weapon yet).
As we approach the new millenium, we are in the beginning stages of a war; a war for humanity. To suffer defeat is to suffer extinction; for the sake of mankind, we must not fail.
Tamer Anode/Cathode:
I will now provide information about X-COM's current arsenal.
The Interceptor is the result of cooperation between the aeronautic firms of multiple nations and the backing nations of the X-COM project. Powered by pulse-detonation technology, the Interceptor can remain airborne for hours. With the most advanced electronic systems to date and long-range Stingray and Avalanche missiles, the Interceptor should have little problem detecting, pursuing, and bringing down anything that comes our way.
The Skyranger is X-COM's primary transport craft, used to deploy to sites of confirmed or suspected alien activity. Its size allows it to carry up to fourteen field operatives along with their equipment. While unarmed, it is equipped with a communications suite that allows it to detect potential threats while airborne.
X-COM heavy weapons platforms are remote-operated combat vehicles designed to provide support to field operatives. While bulky and difficult to maneuver in tight quarters, HWPs can take a significant beating and still function. Two variants are available at this time: one with a 20mm anti-armor cannon and one with a rocket launcher.
This 5.56x45mm semiautomatic is the standard-issue X-COM rifle. It's lightweight, fairly accurate, and has respectable firepower for its size. While it's the most reliable weapon we have at this current time, there is concern that conventional firearms may not be enough to deal with potential threats. We are currently looking into developing more advanced weapons systems, but this is the best we have so far.
9x19mm pistols are the current sidearm for X-COM field operatives. While it lacks the accuracy or rate of fire of the rifle, it can be fired with one hand with no loss of accuracy, allowing a free hand for the use of grenades or other field equipment.
More affectionately known as the ?heavy cannon?, this man-portable weapon fires 12.7x99mm ammunition of armor-piercing, high-explosive (?black sabot?), or incendiary (?yellow-tip?) variants. It is ideal in a support role for destroying enemy cover.
This automatic variant of the ?heavy cannon? is slightly more cumbersome and less accurate, but has a significantly greater ammo capacity and rate of fire, allowing it to raze anything between it and the enemy. These advantages have allowed it to effectively supplant the original weapon it was based on.
This rocket launcher is designed to use either two different sizes of high-explosive rocket or an incendiary rocket. Due to the difficulty of supplying it with ammunition on the battlefield, it is not expected to see much use. We will instead use heavy weapons platforms in order to deploy rockets on the battlefield.
Grenades are a small but significant addition to the X-COM arsenal. There are three types of grenade in service; a standard explosive with a time-delay, a smoke grenade designed to provide cover, and a grenade that, when armed, detonates when triggered by nearby motion.
Time-delay high-explosive packs are available for use in demolition of cover.
The so-called ?stun rod? disrupts the nervous system of the target using an electrical charge. It is designed as a nonlethal weapon for use in live capture.
?Electro-flares? are portable lights used for nighttime operations. When thrown, they illuminate a small portion of the surrounding area.
Tamer Anode/Cathode:
Our current base of operations is Firstlight, an underground facility in the Swiss Alps. Its location is designed to provide optimal defense of population centers in Europe.
...it's entirely coincidence that Europe provides roughly a third of our operating budget. We honestly expected the United States, and the world in general to be more supportive of the agency financially. We do have several private backers as well, including a South African conglomerate named Multinational United and several unnamed investors who have funneled their funds through the Brazilian government. Just shy of six million dollars a month isn't much to run an organization on; we're expecting at least a quarter of that to pay for the lease of aircraft, leaving us approximately $4.3 million for the purchase of equipment and the recruitment of staff.
Firstlight's facilities are fairly modest, but sufficient for our current scale of operations. The base contains hangars for three aircraft, living quarters for up to fifty people, storage for weapons and equipment, research and development facilities, and radar with a 300-mile range. Access to the surface is controlled by a heavy-duty elevator.
This is the initial proposal for upgrades to Firstlight. Our engineers have proposed the addition of additional radar with a 450-mile range, more storage facilities, and a life support/containment facility for captured extraterrestrials.
Additional changes were made to this proposal when concerns were made about the security of Firstlight. It was suggested that if an attack were made on the base, intruders would enter through the hangars and access elevator. These plans relocate the hangars to one side of the lift, creating a single point of entry into the main base and making Firstlight easier to defend. The living quarters will be relocated to further bottleneck the entrance. In all, these upgrades will take roughly twenty-five days.
Our R&D division is currently 20 people; ten scientists of various fields and ten engineers. We have currently assigned the research team to two proposals; the development of laser-based weaponry which we hope will outperform conventional firearms on the field, and a portable medical kit which can diagnose and treat injuries on the battlefield. A third proposal for a motion scanner was rejected; to quote one scientist, ?We already have motion scanners, they're called eyes?.
Tamer Anode/Cathode:
I haven't had time to meet our field agents in person, but they have undergone physical and psychological tests and evaluations of their skill, which I have quantified and summarized.
This agent scored well in our evaluations. I expect that under proper command, he shall be extremely reliable.
While this agent scored somewhat below par in marksmanship test, he showed competence with throwing, both with distance and accuracy. These skills will be important when the use of grenades is required on a mission.
This agent did well in the physical evaluations and skill tests, although there is concern about his psychological record; I'm worried about how he will react under pressure.
Our only female agent so far, she scored well in marksmanship tests.
This agent did extremely well in his physical examination, but scored poorly with marksmanship. He is likely to do well with heavy weapons, where accuracy is not as important.
This agent's skill assessment is questionable at best. He does show admirable reaction time, however. He will likely be assigned to a support role.
This agent also did extremely well with throwing tests, but his performance in the other tests was below par.
This agent scored poorly in most of the tests in comparison to the rest of the team. He will also likely be kept in a support role.
Both Interceptor craft on lease to Firstlight have been equipped with Stingray and Avalanche long-range air-to-air missiles.
All eight available field agents, along with a heavy weapons platform and a significant amount of equipment have been loaded onto the Skyranger.
Tamer Anode/Cathode:
The first few days of operations were uneventful; we've detected nothing of note despite sending an Interceptor up to do patrols.
About three days after we assigned R&D to the laser project, they informed us they had a breakthrough; they've tested various methods and seem to have found one which can be reliably made into a weapon. The research head says that with a little more time, they should have a prototype ready.
At about 4PM GMT on January 6, Firstlight detected its first UFO; a small craft flying near the Russian border. Approximately half an hour later, one of our interceptors caught up to it a few miles from the Baltic Sea and shot it down.
This directly led to the first X-COM field operation. Firstlight's Skyranger transport was dispatched to the crash site in order to recover the craft.
Unfortunately, we arrived late, and the operation had to be conducted at night. ?Good Throwing Arm? was given flares and ?All Muscles? was given an autocannon with incendiary ammunition. All other agents were given a standard loadout of a rifle, spare clip, grenade, and emergency pistol.
What follows next is a log of transmissions from the operation. We apologize for the complications with the visual feed; we are working on improving our video systems.
SKYRANGER: Skyranger-1 to Firstlight, we are at deployment zone.
?PROMISE?: Send the HWP out to do recon.
HWP OPERATOR: Moving out... area is clear.
?THROWING ARM?: Going down to set up flares.
?THROWING ARM?: We've got some burn marks here... potential hostiles.
?PROMISE?: Confirmed. Move with caution, everybody.
?THROWING ARM?: We've spotted something, sir. Looks like the craft.
?PROMISE?: Confirmed. Me and Throws Like A Girl here are coming down to check it out.
?LIKE A GIRL?: I hate that nickname SO much. Say, you hear something? Sounded like a door.
FIRSTLIGHT: ...we've already confirmed the occupants of the property vacated after the crash. Likely hostiles.
HWP OPERATOR: They've got insurance... I'll handle this.
HWP OPERATOR: Don't see a body, sir.
?MUSCLES?: I'll get the other end of the building.
?MUSCLES?: Okay, so that didn't work. Don't see anything on this end either.
?WIMPY?: Going all the way around to see if there's anything at that back door.
?PROMISE?: Okay, watch yourselves. I'm going to check out the ship.
?PROMISE?: Okay, we've got the door secured, ready to move in!
?LIKE A GIRL?: We've got two hostiles!
[
?LIKE A GIRL?: Make that one hostile!
?PROMISE?: Get out of the way before it fires on you, I'll handle the rest!
?PROMISE?: Okay, ship's clear! Are you sure there wasn't anything in that house?
HWP OPERATOR: Don't see anything here.
?MUSCLES?: Don't see anything here.
?WIMPY?: Uh, guys? I think I got this one.
[END TRANSMISSION]
The mission was successful. Despite some collateral property damage, there were no casualties to X-COM agents or civilians. The alien craft, while disabled, took little damage from either the aerial engagement with the Interceptor or the crash; it has been recovered effectively intact. The bodies of the aliens and their equipment will be taken for study by R&D.
?Shows Promise? has been promoted for his efforts on the battlefield.
After only one mission, representatives of our backing nations are already congratulating us for how the operation has been handled. It is too soon to see if this praise is deserved or not, or if this is the full extent of the alien threat.
Want to be a part of this LP? Just say so in the comments and I'll name an X-COM agent or other organization member after you.