New Recruits Tend To Drown A Lot (TFTD Liveblog Thingy)

Or:

"Let's Play . . . X-Com: Terror From The Deep!"

Now, before I begin, a word of warning: this is a port of an existing TFTD liveblog/Let's Play, which I started over at the Fora Augusta.

(Yes, I go by the name "Professor Yana" over there. It's from a game I used to play, one where I wound up joining forces with players from the Fora Augusta. The Forites know me as Professor Yana, so that's the name I've been using to date.)

Anywho, as I said, I'm planning to keep both this thread and the one on the Fora Augusta updated as best I can. However, due to the fact that my work schedule varies from week to week, I may not be able to update as fast as I (or anyone else) would like.

. . . oh, and before you ask: yes, the name is a Shout-Out to the excellent UFO: Enemy Unknown liveblog "New Recruits Tend To Die A Lot", done by our very own English Ivy.

With that said, though, it's time to load the torpedoes and stock up on Harpoon Pods - the Second Alien War is upon us!

Prologue - Mars: The Fall of Cydonia

Elite forces dispatched from X-Com facilities around the world wage a pitched battle against the forces defending the alien command centre on Mars, known as "Cydonia".

Despite suffering heavy casualties, the X-Com troops breach the alien base and manage to destroy the alien's main command-and-control computer, an organic system nicknamed the "Mother Brain".

Without the Mother Brain to direct their operations, the Alien forces fall into disarray and flee from Earth's solar system.

But all is not well - the destruction of the Mother Brain triggered a contingency program built into Cydonia's secondary systems, one which sends a narrow-beam tachyon signal to a waiting receiver.

The destination of the signal?

EARTH.

Forty years pass. All is quiet in the intervening time . . . but then the unthinkable happens.

Alien forces secreted on the seabed millions of years ago - forces reactivated by the Cydonia signal - begin to wage a campaign of terror against Mankind. Strange flying submarines armed with hideously powerful weapons begin staging attacks on human vessels and ports, with terrifying efficiency. As a clear pattern of Alien activity is established, the forces of X-Com are reactivated to counter this new threat.

A small team from an X-Com surface base in the Canary Isles is dispatched to the scene of one of the most recent attacks - the sinking of the Euro-Syndicate cruise vessel Hyperion.

Only one transmission is made before all contact is lost with the team:

"Commander? I think they're back . . . "

Commander's Log, January 1, 2040

Location: Augustica Base

This is Professor Tremas Yana, Chief of Staff at Augustica Base.

I've been asked to take command of X-Com operations in order to deal with a newly-discovered Alien threat - and thus far, I am not pleased with what I see.

Augustica Base is, to put it mildly, a tactical nightmare◊. I would have thought that the events of the First Alien War would have taught the construction crews a few things about proper base design, but they stubbornly insist on using the same initial layout as they did in the early days of AW 1 - with the end result that there are not one, not two, but THREE separate points of entry scattered around the perimeter of the base, not including the main airlock itself!

In addition to this, they have failed to construct any meaningful defences around the perimeter as well!

In light of this staggering incompetence, I have had the current construction teams . . . redacted from the X-Com payroll, and have hired replacements to correct their egregious mistakes.

It will take the better part of a month for these errors to be corrected◊, but I do not expect an Alien incursion upon this facility as yet, so we should have sufficient time to complete the necessary work.

However, due to the fact that we will be fighting a mainly underwater battle against this alien menace, the equipment used by X-Com in the First Alien War is . . . unsuitable for the current conflict - and the only suitable equipment available at this time is, for the most part, inferior to even the basic equipment available at the outset of the First Alien War.

As such, I have disposed of all equipment that cannot be used both underwater and on land. While this deprives us of much of our arsenal of heavy weapons - most notably the Hydro-Jet Cannon and the Torpedo Launcher - it does permit our forces to assume a more flexible posture when dealing with the Alien threat.

I must also note that we have not, as yet, had any contact with Alien forces since the sinking of the Euro-Syndicate passenger vessel Hyperion. However, I have no doubt that this will change in the near future.

End log.

Commander's Log, January 10, 2040

Location: Augustica Base

Professor Yana reporting.

The sonar arrays at Augustica Base have detected an Alien craft touched down near the Bahamas. I have dispatched a Barracuda-class hunter-killer sub to keep it under observation, and to intercept and engage it should the Alien vessel attempt to take off

A Triton-class transport submarine will also be dispatched, with a crew of ten Aquanauts; hopefully, we will be able to take the Alien vessel intact.

edited 29th Jul '10 11:53:17 PM by RangerSix

COMBAT REPORT - JANUARY 10, 2040

• Personnel deployed to combat zone:
  • Seaman Kwas
  • Seaman Myst Rose
  • Seaman Joanna
  • Seaman nos
  • Seaman syd
  • Seaman Jack Harkness
  • Seaman Gwen Cooper
  • Seaman John Benton
  • Seaman Princeps Augustus
  • Seaman Spencer Tracy

Yana (via remote link): All right, people, look sharp. As this is a nighttime mission, everyone's been issued with three Chemical Flares - put them to good use.

Also, those of you not equipped with heavy weapons have been issued a Thermal Tazer, so that you can at least attempt to take some of the Alien soldiers alive for interrogation back here at Augustica Base.

Kwas and Joanna, I want you two to set up just outside the Triton's passenger-bay door. Myst Rose, you set up near the nose of the Triton; I want all three of you to toss your Chemical Flares as far out as you can and light up the seabed for the rest of the team.

(WHIRR-CLUNK)

(CLUNK CLUNK CRUNCH)

Kwas: In position, tossing flare.

(WHSS-THUD)

Kwas: . . . I see part of a sunken whaling vessel and a bunch of waterlogged crates.

(CLUNK CLUNK CRUNCH, WHSS-THUD)

Joanna: Flare away, I got nothin'.

(CLUNK CLUNK CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH, WHSS-THUD)

Myst Rose: . . . No hostiles in sight.◊

Yana: All right. Myst Rose, I want you and syd to head southwest. Joanna, you back them up. Princeps, Gwen, and Kwas, you three head southeast and keep your eyes peeled for any Alien activity.

(WHIRR-CLUNK WHIRR-CLUNK WHIRR-CLUNK)

Joanna: What the hell was that?

Yana: It wasn't anything aboard Triton-One. Must be the crew of the Alien vessel.

Kwas: Sounded like it came from the south.

Yana: Okay, people, spread out. Harkness, I want you to take nos, Benton, and Tracy directly south while the heavy-weapons teams sweep around and come down from the southeast and southwest respectively.

Princeps: I see some kind of ruined structure down here.◊ Wonder if that's what's got the Eeks' attention.

Myst Rose: . . . Why is there a tank on the seabed this far from land?◊

(KSSHOW-CRACKLE)

Princeps: What the hell was THAT?

Yana: All units, Team One has hostile contact. Gwen, Kwas, move up and cover Princeps.

Princeps: I see the little green bastard, but I don't have a clear shot!◊

Kwas: Hang on, let me try.

(PSSHEW-CRUNK)

Kwas: Dammit, I missed!

Gwen: Well, at least he can't see us now . . .◊

(CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH)

Gwen: I've got a clear line of fire.◊ Taking the shot.

(WHIRR-THWAP)

Aquatoid: EEEEOW!◊

Princeps: Nice shot!

Yana: Kwas, move up and cover them. Team Two, continue your sweep southwest.

(CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH)

Joanna: . . . This gun is heavy.

Myst: Shhh! I've found the enemy vessel!◊

syd: Popping flare.

(WHSS-THUD)

syd: Don't see any Eeks. I'm going to take up position by those old pipe segments.◊

(CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH)

(KSSHOW-CRACKLE)

Princeps: What the hell?! Why do these aliens keep shooting at ME?

nos: Because they hate you, Princeps.

Princeps: . . . Very funny, nos.

Gwen: I've got the shooter. C'mere, you little green bastard . . .

(KZAAAK)

Gwen: Shooter's down.◊

Princeps: Make sure he STAYS down. I'm sick of people taking potshots at me!

Myst: FIRE IN THE HOLE!◊

(WHABOOM)

Myst: Well, so much for that idea.

Joanna: What were you trying to do? Blow a hole in the sub?

Myst: Exactly.

Joanna: I thought Yana wanted the sub INTACT.

Myst: Well, that doesn't mean we have to go in through the front door!

(CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH)

Tracy: Well, there's nobody hiding in these ruins.

Kwas: I'm going to disarm this stunned Eek. That way he won't shoot us in the back if he wakes up.

(CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH)

Myst: I'm coming up around the front of the Alien vessel. syd, you take position opposite me near the doors, okay?

syd: On it.

(WHIRR-CLUNK)

Myst: Eek spotted! Taking the shot!

(WHIRR-THWAP)

Myst: Missed!

syd: Hang on, let me take a shot at him.

(WHIRR-THWAP)

Aquatoid: EEEEEOW!

syd: Got 'im!

Yana: Benton, Harkness, move in to cover Myst and syd. Everyone else, keep sweeping the area.

(KABOOM)

Aquatoid: EEEEOW!

Carl Sagan: Hah, stupid Eek got blown up by his own grenade.

Myst: We've breached the alien vessel. Preparing to sweep for Alien crew. Ready Tazers!

Harkness: Eek sighted! Taking the shot!

(WHIRR-THWAP)

Harkness: He's down, but I think I only stunned him.

Benton: I'm moving in to disarm him.

(KSSHOW-CRACKLE)

Gwen: Got an Eek shooting at me! Returning fire!

(WHIRR-THWAP WHIRR-THWAP)

Gwen: Bastard's taken cover.

(WHIRR-THUNK)

Myst: Got another Eek. Tazing!

(KZASSH)

Myst: He's down.

syd: I'll disarm him.

Myst: Be my guest.

(KSSHOW-CRACKLE)

Gwen: Die, you green piece of shit!

(WHIRR-THWAP)

Aquatoid: EEEEOW!

Gwen: Mess with the best, die like the rest!

Princeps: Looks like that's all of them.

Yana: Nice work, people. Head on home, and get some well-deserved rest.

((P.S. - Until I can figure out how to get the forums to stop sticking all of the people in this game on one line - which it seems to like to do, despite the fact that any sensible forum would correctly interpret a single carriage-return character as if it were the HTML line-break code - I'm going to be bulleting the personnel lists for each mission.))

edited 30th Jul '10 12:17:08 AM by RangerSix

Commander's Log, January 10th, 2040 - Supplemental

Today's recovery mission went without a hitch. Although we don't have suitable containment facilities for the captured aliens, the world governments are pleased with the results of our first mission.

All told, we have seven alien corpses for the scientists to study, as well as several alien artifacts and an intact alien submarine, and both Kwas and Gwen Cooper have been promoted to Ensign.

I've done a little research, and I believe that the Alien plasma weapons of the First Alien War could be modified to work underwater. I've assigned the project to our science team here at Augustica Base. While the Jet Harpoons currently in use are fairly useful against the aliens we've encountered thus far, the low capacity of their clips - a single pod only contains ten rounds - means that a protracted battle would likely deplete a combat team's ammunition rather quickly.

I do not expect all of our battles to go this smoothly, though. I have no doubt that we shall see casualties among X-Com forces before the month is out.

I've also taken the liberty of ordering a Coelecanth-class Submersible Weapons System, armed with a heavy Gas Cannon. This should provide us with some decent heavy support for both undersea and land missions.

End log.

((P.S. - Until I can figure out how to get the forums to stop sticking all of the people in this game on one line - which it seems to like to do, despite the fact that any sensible forum would correctly interpret a single carriage-return character as if it were the HTML line-break code - I'm going to be bulleting the personnel lists for each mission.))

Double backslashes [ \\ ] after the word, with the line break (enter).

edited 30th Jul '10 6:05:24 AM by TriggerLoaded

Got'cha, Trigger Loaded.

I guess my sleep-addled brain didn't spot that when I was going through the wiki markup stuff last night!

(And now, back to the porting.)

edited 30th Jul '10 7:56:50 AM by RangerSix

Commander's Log, January 15th 2040

Location: Augustica Base

Base sonar has picked up another Alien vessel, this one headed east towards Euro-Syndicate territory. Our Barracudas successfully intercepted and downed the Alien sub, and I've dispatched Triton-One to recover the downed vessel.

It seems we shall also need additional storage space to support the Coelecanth and its ammunition stocks, so I've ordered the construction of two more storage facilities within the base.◊

Once the old hangars have been dismantled, I shall also have containment facilities built to house captured Alien lifeforms for further study, as well as additional laboratories and workshops for our scientists and technicians to do the work necessary to keep X-Com viable.

Our construction teams report that they've almost finished the construction of the new Torpedo Defences, as well as two sets of Living Quarters for the personnel at Augustica Base.

The science team has also reported in, and they announced they've made good progress in adapting the Alien plasma tech from AW 1 to the conditions we are likely to experience in this new war.

However, the weapon tech they're working on - which they have dubbed "Gauss Technology"◊ - is likely to be less powerful than the Plasma tech from the First Alien War. It will be a significant step up from the weapons we currently have available, and our Chief Technician, Dr. Asriel Belacqua, reports that his teams are ready to put the science team's designs into production as soon as they are ready.

TACTICAL COMBAT REPORT - JANUARY 15 2040

Personnel deployed to combat zone:

Ensign Kwas
Ensign Gwen Cooper
Able Seaman syd
Able Seaman Jack Harkness
Able Seaman Myst Rose
Seaman nos
Seaman Joanna
Seaman Princeps Augustus
Seaman John Benton
Seaman Spencer Tracy

Yana (via remote link): Okay, people, I've got good news and bad news. The good news is, this is a daylight mission, so it should be a bit easier. The bad news, as you can probably guess, is that some goddamn pencil-necked geek in the quartermaster's department fucked up our last requisition, so we don't have the Coelecanth yet.

Princeps: Goddamnit!

Yana: Hey, I don't like the situation any more than you do - but we've got a job to do, so let's get cracking. Kwas, take up position near the front of Triton-One. Joanna, you cover him. Myst Rose, you head southwest towards the top of that lava flow with syd.

(CLUNK CLUNK CLUNK CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH)

Myst: . . . Lot of volcanic activity around this site.

syd: What do you expect? We're in the middle of the Atlantic here.◊

(CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH)

syd: Hostile contact.◊ Taking the shot.

(WHIRR-THWAP)

syd: Missed!

Myst: Firing phosphor round!

(PSSHEW-CRUMP)

Myst: Burn, motherfucker, BURN!◊

Yana: Princeps, Gwen, there's another hostile to the south of Triton-One. See if you can't put it out of our misery.

Gwen: Our pleasure.

(CLUNK CLUNK CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH)

(WHIRR-THWAP)

Princeps: No dice.

(WHIRR-THWAP WHIRR-THWAP)

Aquatoid: EEEEOW!

Gwen: I got 'im.◊

Yana: Kwas, Joanna, head southeast. See what you can find.

(CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH)

Kwas: I see . . . nothing.

(CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH)

(POINK-CRACKLE)

(THUMP)

Myst: GRENADE!

(WHABOOM)

syd: Shit, I think my visor got scratched by some shrapnel.

Myst: Don't worry about it. At least that Eek is still there.

syd: Yeah, I see him.◊ Taking the shot.

Myst: I'm with ya.

(WHIRR-THWAP PSHHEW-CRUMP)

Myst: . . . How the fuck can he still be standing?!

syd: Beats me.◊

Gwen: Let me take a potshot at him.

(WHIRR-THWAP)

Aquatoid: EEEOW!

syd: Wow. Tough little bastard, wasn't he?◊

Myst: No kidding.

(CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH)

Joanna: There's something behind that ridge.◊ FIRE IN THE HOLE!

(WHABOOM!)

(KSHHOW-CRACKLE)

Joanna: AUGH!

Kwas: MOTHER FUCKER! It got Joanna!◊

(PSSHEW-CRUMP PSSHEW-CRUMP)

Princeps: Take it down!

(WHIRR-THWAP WHIRR-THWAP)

Aquatoid: EEEOW!

Princeps: Who killed it? Wasn't me . . . ◊

Gwen: Nor me.

Tracy: I couldn't even see the bastard.

Kwas: Wasn't me. I've got a Gas Cannon, anyway, and whoever downed it got it with a Jet Harpoon. Maybe he bled out from Joanna's grenade?

Princeps: What the hell, a kill's a kill. One less Eek to worry about.

Yana: Harkness, Benton, get out there and back the rest of the team up. Tracy, I want you and nos to guard the Triton. These guys are learning, and pretty fast too.

syd: I'm going to take cover by that black smoker there.◊

(CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH)

Gwen: Climb, climb to the top of the world . . .◊

Benton: You do that then.

(CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH)

Kwas: I see the enemy vessel. Looks like those Barracudas did some serious damage to it.◊

Yana: DUP warheads will do that. They're basically giant contact-fused Claymore mines loaded with depleted uranium pellets.

(CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH)

syd: Nothing over here except a lot of volcanic activity.◊

Harkness: Well, don't get cocky. Just because we can't see them doesn't mean they can't see us.

Kwas: I'm going to try to shed some light on the inside of the downed sub.

(PSSHEW-CRUMP PSSHEW-CRUMP)

Kwas: . . . Well, I don't see anything.◊

(CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH)

Gwen: Yeah. That sub's not going anywhere soon.

Kwas: I'm switching to AP rounds.

(CHK-CHUNK!)

Benton: Moving up to scope out the sub. Cover me.◊

Princeps: On it.

(CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH)

syd: Come out, come out, wherever you are!

Gwen: I see one dead Eek in the wreckage.◊

(CLUNK CLUNK CLUNK)

Princeps: Hang on. I think I saw something moving in there!

(CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH)

Benton: You were right.◊ Taking the shot!

(WHIRR-THWAP WHIRR-THWAP)

Benton: Missed!

Princeps: I can't get a clear shot.

(KSSHOW-CRACKLE)

(WHIRR-THWAP)

(WHABOOM!)

Benton/Aquatoid: AUGH!/EEEOW!

Princeps: . . . Dammit, Benton bought the farm. Well, at least the Eek died too - serves it right.

Myst: Looks like it was the last one, too.

Princeps: Good. Let's get out of here.

Commander's Log, January 15 2040 - Supplemental

This last recovery mission saw the deaths of two Aquanauts - Seaman John Benton and Seaman Joanna.◊

However, we managed to recover several alien artifacts, six dead aliens, and decent quantities of both Aqua Plastics and the material the Aliens use to power their craft, a substance which they apparently call "Zrbite". A strange name, to be sure. I shall have to ask the scientists here to study the material and try to discern exactly how it is used.

I would have preferred that everyone returned alive from this mission, but such are the fates of war. However, both Princeps Augustus and Jack Harkness have earned promotions to the rank of Able Seaman, and a new batch of recruits is en route to Augustica Base. Perhaps these will fare better than the deceased.

End log.

Commander's Log - January 24, 2040

Location: Augustica Base

Another good news, bad news day.

The good news is threefold:

One, the science team here has finally finished their work on the basics of Gauss Technology, and they're weaponizing it at this very moment.

Two, the new recruits have arrived, including the new active-duty Aquanaut Nads and the XO for the base defense team, x2wolf.

And three, we finally have the Coelecanth SWS.

However, this leads me into the first part of the bad news: that being that we only got half a case of ammunition for the damn thing, so we can't use it just yet.

And then there's the second part of the bad news . . . Alien terrorists have launched an attack on the port of Bombay, and X-Com's been called in to deal with them.◊

I remember the horror stories of the First Alien War, where entire squads would be torn apart by Eek terrorists laying in wait to ambush the troops as they exited the transports.

On the one hand, I know I'm likely sending my troops into a meat grinder.

On the other hand . . . if I don't do something, I risk pissing off the people funding X-Com, which could be even worse.

I hate this shit. I really do.

Commander's Log - January 31, 2040

I'm not exactly sure what happened in Bombay on the 26th - communication with the team was spotty, to say the least. I've got the technicians trying to figure out what went wrong with the comm gear, but I do know this much:◊

One, the team brought back quite a haul. Lots of artifacts and plenty of dead Aliens.

Two, we didn't get there in time to stop the Alien terror troops from killing several civilians, but those who survived were glad to see the X-Com troops show up.

Three, our forces were most efficient in dealing with the threat once they'd arrived; according to the report of Aquanaut Remington Steele, the squad managed to neutralize 90% of the Alien terrorists without losing a single soldier, with the end result being that the terrorist leader - of all people - dropped his weapon and ran. (Right into the waiting arms of Able Seaman Owen Harper, I might add, who had the presence of mind to whack the Eek with his Thermal Tazer.)

Unfortunately, during the hunt for the last remaining terrorist, we lost Ensign Gwen Cooper; she was shot in the back by the aforementioned Alien terrorist.

Still, the funding council is pleased with our results to date, and they've agreed to increase their funding. Not by much, I'll grant you, but it's a start.◊

Oh . . . now that the new hangars have been built, I've ordered the old ones demolished to make room for two sets of holding cells and two additional workshops; the scientists here have finished their designs for the first weapon based on the new Gauss Technology, which they call the Gauss Pistol, and I plan to put it into production during the coming weeks. They're already working on a more powerful (and upscaled) version which they've dubbed the Gauss Rifle, and they say that given enough time they can produce Gauss weapons suitable for both heavy-weapons troops and for mounting on our Barracudas.

Commander's Log - February 28th, 2040

You know, it's weird. Up until today, the month has been pretty quiet.

But we just got word of another terror attack, this one out in Anchorage, Alaska.

Now, myself, I'd be just as happy to tell the citizens of Anchorage to go to hell, on account of how a significant chunk of them tried to get Sarah Palin elected President back before Alaska seceded from the United States . . . but the people funding X-Com wouldn't be too happy if we let the Eeks run roughshod over the place, so I've sent the troops in.

At least we can finally use the Coelecanth for heavy fire support; we're going to need it.

End log.

TACTICAL COMBAT REPORT - FEBURARY 28, 2040

Personnel deployed to combat zone:

Lieutenant Kwas
Ensign Jack Harkness
Ensign Princeps Augustus
Able Seaman Remington Steele
Able Seaman nads
Able Seaman syd
Able Seaman Myst Rose
Seaman Spencer Tracy
Seaman nos
Seaman Suzie Costello
SWS - Coelecanth/Gas Cannon

Yana: All right, people, look sharp. Nighttime terror missions are the worst kind, so use your Chemical Flares wisely. I'll be controlling the Coelecanth using the telepresence rig in the command center◊, but keep in mind - these things are expensive. Try not to let it get blown up, mmmkay?

(WHIRR-THUNK)

Kwas: Well, there doesn't seem to be anything in this garage.◊

(WHIRR WHIRR WHIRR WHIRR WHIRR)

Yana: Hrm. Controlling this thing is harder than I thought.◊

(CLUNK CLUNK CLUNK)

Steele: Contact, by the dumpster!

(WHIRR-THWAP)

(CLUNK CLUNK CLUNK)

Steele: . . . He vanished back into the shadows.

Yana: *in an obviously-fake British accent* I say, nads, be a good chap and lob a phosphor round off that way, would you?

(PSHEWW-CLUNK)

nads: Erm, oops. That was an AP round.

Yana: . . . nads, you IDIOT. I told you to load phosphor rounds!

Costello: Never mind, I see the Eek. Taking the shot.

(WHIRR-THWAP WHIRR-THWAP)

Deep One: GURHURGLE.

Costello: He's down for the count.◊

Steele: There's another one of those grey buggers in that warehouse.◊

(KSSHOW-CRACKLE)

Steele: GYAAAH!

(WHIRR WHIRR WHIRR WHIRR WHIRR)

(PSHEWW-KAWHANG)

Gill Man: HURGH . . .

Yana: Ahh, there's no kill like overkill.◊

Kwas: Hey, there's another one of those grey things up in that office. I'm going to set it on fire, heh heh!

(PSHEWW-CRUMP)

Kwas: The room is on fire, but we don't need no water. Let the motherfucker burn!

(WHIRR WHIRR WHIRR WHIRR WHIRR)

Yana: . . . A crate labeled "Top Secret: X-Com". No wonder the Aliens are attacking Anchorage.

(WHIRR WHIRR WHIRR)

(PSHEWW-KAWHANG)

Gill Man: HURGH . . .

Yana: Dum dum dum, another one bites the dust . . .◊

Costello: Contact, by the warehouse!

(WHIRR-THWAP)

Gill Man: HURGH . . .

(POINK-CRACKLE)

Costello: The fuck did that shot come from?!

nads: Probably deeper in the warehouse.

(KA-KLUNKA)

Myst Rose: WHOA, SHIT! GREY BASTARD!

(WHIRR-THWAP)

Deep One: GURHURGLE.

Myst: Goddamn, that was close.◊

(WHIRR WHIRR WHIRR)

(PSHEWW-KAWHANG)

Deep One: GURHURGLE.

Yana: Yeah, you stay away from that crate!

(CLUNK CLUNK CLUNK)

nads: Hum-de-dum . . . oh, HELL-o!

(WHIRR WHIRR WHIRR)

Yana: Yeah, that thing I said about "stay away from the crate"? It goes for you too.◊

(PSHHEW-KAWHANG)

Gill Man: HURGH . . .

(KSSHOW-CRACKLE)

nads: YAAAGH!

Costello: NADS!

(WHIRR-THWAP)

(WHUMPH)

Costello: FIRE IN THE HOLE!

(WHABOOM)

Deep One: GURHURGLE.

(POINK-CRACKLE POINK-CRACKLE)

Costello: EEYAGH!

(CLUNK CLUNK CLUNK)

Princeps: Well, hello there.

(WHIRR-THWAP)

(WHUMPH)

Deep One: GURHURGLE.

Kwas: Nice shooting, Princeps.

Princeps: I was aiming for his head. Not the barrel.◊

(KSSHOW-CRACKLE)

(WHIRR-THWAP)

Gill Man: HURGH . . .

Princeps: Now THAT'S a headshot.◊

(WHIRR WHIRR WHIRR)

Yana: . . . MORE X-Com gear?◊ Un-be-fucking-lievable.

(KAKLUNKA)

Kwas: Hey, Yana. Green guy by that door.

Yana: I see him. One-two punch?

Kwas: What I was thinking.

(PSHEWW-CRUMP)

(PSHHEW-KAWHANG)

Kwas: Anyone for spit-roasted Eek?◊

Princeps: Uh, no thank you.

(SIZZLE)

Tracy: Whoa, hey, grey bastard over by those oil drums!

Myst: I see him.

(WHIRR-THWAP WHIRR-THWAP WHIRR-THWAP)

Deep One: GURHURGLE.

Yana: All right, people, listen up. We've got two Eeks trapped on the top floor of the warehouse. We may not be able to get them both, so I want some of you to start gathering up the dead Eeks and taking them back to the transport.

Princeps: Sounds like a plan.

Tracy: *to the tune of "Row, Row, Row Your Boat"* Loot, loot, loot the Eek's dead and bloody corpse . . .◊

Myst Rose: Damn. This guy came loaded for bear.◊

nos: I see movement on the top floor.

Harkness/syd: FIRE IN THE HOLE!

(WHABOOM WHABOOM)

Gill Men: HURGH . . .

nos: That's the last of them.

Harkness: And about bloody time too.

Commander's Log - Supplemental

This last counterterrorism operation could have gone a lot more smoothly.◊ We were able to retrieve a decent amount of Alien equipment and several corpses, though two civilians were mistaken for the grey-skinned race that seems to act as the primary agent of terror in these attacks.

We also suffered casualties on this mission: Able Seaman Remington Steele, Able Seaman nads, and Seaman Suzie Costello.

We also confiscated the crates marked "Top Secret: X-Com" on them, and guess what we found inside?

The missing ammunition for the Coelecanth.

I swear, I'm going to find out who's responsible for that screwup - and when I do, I'll have him shot, court-martialed, and sent to Siberia!

End log.

Commander's Log - February 29, 2040

Location: Augustica Base

It seems the United States isn't too happy about how we handled the Anchorage affair, so they've reduced their funding.◊

Everyone else seems pretty happy, though.

I've ordered the construction of a wide-array sonar facility at Augustica Base, and am looking into potential sites for other bases along the U.S. coastline.

I've also hired some more scientists and technicians, and asked Dr. Belacqua to start mass-producing the Gauss Pistol.

The fact that this past month has been so quiet is rather disturbing, though. The First Alien War was never this quiet, even early on. What nasty tricks do those aliens have up their sleeves?

Commander's Log, March 8th, 2040

Location: Augustica Base

The new sonar array isn't ready yet, but we picked up several small Alien subs scouting the area around the Canary Islands. Most of them were small enough that a single DUP-warhead torpedo was enough to destroy them, but one of them was a bit larger, and the Barracudas only sank it.

I've deployed Triton-One to recover the wreck and terminate any Eeks that may have survived the crash.

Also, the newest batch of recruits shows promise. Looks like X-Com's finally starting to get some decent personnel from the recruiters.

End log.

((N.B. - The porting is pretty much done, for now. I've got some images to resize for the report on the latest recovery mission, and I've got another recovery mission in progress. Also, anyone who wants in on this is more than welcome to join up, either in this thread or in the original.))

Heh, interesting. Always kind of wondered how the second game played out.

Could ya put me in? Hopefully I won't be shot the second I walk out out of the craft like last time.

What, like be listed as one of the crew members?

I'm assuming, that's what usually happens with liveblogs anyhoo.

Then sure, why not. Put me in.

COMBAT REPORT - MARCH 8, 2040

Personnel deployed to combat zone:

Lieutenant Kwas
Ensign Myst Rose
Ensign Princeps Augustus
Ensign Jack Harkness
Able Seaman syd
Able Seaman Owen Harper
Seaman Michael Nesmith
Seaman Spencer Tracy
Seaman nos
Seaman Armin Shimerman
Seaman Parson Gotti
Seaman Siegfried Farnan

Yana (via remote link): Okay, people, the Coelecanth took some damage during the Anchorage Affair, so we don't have it available this time around. Dr. Belacqua's people are working to fix it as fast as they can, but for now we'll just have to do without it.

In light of this situation, I've equipped our four strongest people with Gas Cannons and given them full loads of AP, high-explosive, and phosphor rounds for their weapons.

Now, let's get out there and find that damn sub!

(WHIRR-CLUNK)

(CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH)

Kwas: Contact by the seaweed bed!

Myst Rose: I've got him!

syd: No, he's mine!

(PSSHEW-CRUMP PSHHEW-CRUMP PSHEWW-CRUMP)

Kwas: Well, one of us got him . . . ◊

Nesmith: I'm gonna circle around the back of the Triton, see what I can spot.

Princeps: I'll cover you.

(CLUNK CLUNK CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH)

nos: It's quiet. TOO quiet.

Tracy: . . . You know something bad is going to happen now, right?

(CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH)

Harkness: Are we sure this isn't a wild-goose chase? I mean, we've seen one alien and no sign of any crash site, so . . .

Kwas: Harkness, you might want take a look to your left.

Harkness: . . . I stand corrected.◊

(PSHEWW-CRUMP)

Nesmith: Princeps, why did you set the seaweed on fire?

Princeps: Because it's in the way.◊

(CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH)

Harkness: syd, I've got something. Bring down the rain.

syd: You got it.

(PSHHEW-CRUMP PSHHEW-CRUMP)

syd: It's still standing. Tracy, take it out!

Tracy: On it.

(WHIRR-THWAP)

Gill Man: . . . ◊

Tracy: It's down, but I think I just stunned it.

(CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH)

(PSSHOW-CRACKLE)

Nesmith: Another hostile, over by those pipes!

Kwas: Dropping the hammer.

(PSSHEW-CRUMP PSSHEW-CRUMP)

nos: Taking the shot.

(WHIRR-THWAP WHIRR-THWAP)

Gill Man: HURGH . . .

nos: Okay, he's dead.◊

(CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH)

(PSSHOW-CRACKLE)

(WHIRR-THWAP)

Gill Man: HURGH . . .

Tracy: Yeah, fuck you too, Eek.

Yana: Looks like that's the last of them. Come on home, people.

Commander's Log - Supplemental

We recovered the downed sub with zero casualties. Not a bad showing, if I do say so myself.◊

Granted, the salvage wasn't all it could have been, but that's the risk you take when downing these things.

Oh, and Dr. Belacqua's team has finished the first batch of Gauss Pistols. I'm going to see them issued to some of the Aquanauts assigned to Triton-One in place of the Jet Harpoons they've been using.