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

Commander's Log - July 4th, 2040

Today is Independence Day, at least for the Americans amongst the X-Com staff. We celebrated in the traditional manner - fireworks, hot dogs, hamburgers . . . oh, and sending another Alien sub straight to Hell while it was poking around the South Pacific.

Oh, and the science team has finished studying the live Calcinite we brought back from the mission on board the Hugo Chavez.

It's not a particularly enlightening report, though.◊ Perhaps an autopsy will be of more value.

Commander's Log - July 5th, 2040

Well, the report is in on the Calcinite autopsy.◊ The only thing the scientists were able to gain from it were clues on as to the function of the strange bladed weapons carried by certain Aliens.

Interesting, but I fail to see how they'll be of any use to us.

Commander's Log - July 15th, 2040

If these Vibro Blades◊ the Eeks carry are so damn effective, why don't they use them?

Another inscrutable mystery of our foes. Still, one more weapon in our arsenal. Perhaps we should experiment with them on our next colony assault - one I plan to execute at the end of next month.

Commander's Log - July 24, 2040

Another small sub, another kill for Barracuda-Three.

You'd think they'd stop sending these after a while. Really, you would.

Commander's Log - July 31, 2040

The latest funding report is in.◊ Everyone except the Neo-Japanese are happy with our activities, but then again what do you expect from a bunch of traitors?

edited 29th Aug '10 1:19:27 AM by RangerSix

As far as the Tripoli mission goes, I think that while there were civilians killed, the more important detail is that any civilians killed were victims of the alien menace rather than any of them mistakingly being shot by X-Com personnel.

Yeah. The Funding Committee tends to look askance at casualties due to crossfire (never mind the fact that the civilians are wandering around in a daze).

Meh, screw em. If they'res crissys around I shoot civs on sight.

Am I the only one who keeps expecting Ensign Couseau to take an Eek bullet and keeps being surprised when he doesn't?

I'm liking this one. If you get a spare slot, could I join the team?

@ Man Called True - No you're not. I'm also surprised to see that he keeps on going based on the write ups. Not that that's a bad thing, mind you.

Though what are the odds we're Tempting Fate right now?

@clockworkspider: Sure thing, chief

@Space Jawa: I'm kind of surprised Cousteau's not dead yet myself, what with the whole "running like a panicked baboon" thing. Of course, it probably helps that:

A) I've got Ion Armour for just about everyone, and

B) the aliens seem to have horrible aim, even with their Sonic Cannons (which, I might add, are the most accurate weapons in the game short of the Disruptor Pulse Launcher, which is essentially a one-handed Blaster Bomb Launcher).

Okay, people, I've finished up the attack on the Antarctic colony - once I get the funding report for August, I'll post my next batch of updates.

However, I do have a question for those who've played Terror From The Deep before.

Have you ever had a colony assault mission end suddenly (i.e., within two to three turns of destroying the Synomium Device), with the game believing that you KO'd whatever aliens you didn't kill?

I've never had that happen to me.

Well, it just happened to me last night O.o

Weird, but . . . hell, I'll roll with it.

Okay, my apologies for the delay, but work has been hectic of late and hasn't really afforded me much time to psot updates to the liveblog. As such, I've a bit of a backlog, which I will attempt to clear up (at least in part).

Commander's Log - August 5, 2040

We've got the information on how the Alien Sonic Cannon◊ works, and how to manufacture clips◊ for it. Time, I think, to put it into service.

Commander's Log - August 6, 2040

If we see one of these around, we know that Echo's out to do some mining◊. They're heavily armed and armored, to discourage piracy.

That's not going to stop us, though. Echo's pillaging material that's rightfully ours, and we'll take it from them - by physical force, if necessary.

Commander's Log - August 11, 2040

An unusual flurry of Alien activity in the South Pacific, and all in the general vicinity of Redback Base.◊

This worries me greatly. I can but hope that the Aquanauts there are prepared to repel an attack.

I may transfer some of our more experienced troops to Redback Base, to head up the defense of that facility.

Commander's Log - August 16, 2040

This is a Thermal Shok Launcher◊, and this is its ammo◊. It will be replacing the Thermal Tazer as the standard-issue capture equipment for X-Com aquanauts.

Commander's Log - August 17, 2040

In the process of their interrogations, the science team here at Augustica Base has developed a theory◊ as to the origin and purpose of this new breed of Echo.

It is one that has been suspected by some time - that some of these "new" aliens are, in fact, the ancient ancestors of races encountered during the First Alien War, while others are branches of terrestrial evolution thought dead by mankind, yet repurposed by Echo to serve as soldiers in a mighty army.

It seems that Echo also has a network of devices strewn across the seabed - nodes in what has been termed a "Molecular Control Network". Each one of these, when activated, has the potential to increase the strength of their Molecular Control abilities by several orders of magnitude; if all of them should be activated, then mankind will surely fall.

We will have to keep a careful eye out for activity that may indicate the presence of one of these so-called "Synomium Devices" - each one we can destroy will significantly hamper Echo's planned takeover.

Commander's Log - August 24, 2040

We've left that Antarctic colony alone long enough that Echo should be complacent by now.

Time to go kick that particular anthill over, I think.

edited 19th Sep '10 2:08:12 PM by RangerSix

COMBAT REPORT - AUGUST 24, 2040

PART I - SURFACE GARRISON

Personnel deployed:

Commander Kwas
Lieutenant Myst Rose
Lieutenant Princeps Augustus
Ensign x2wolf
Ensign dmboogie
Ensign Jacques Cousteau
Ensign Guido Talbot
Ensign Siegfried Farnan
Able Seaman Arilou
Able Seaman Parson Gotti
Able Seaman Sophie Aldred
Able Seaman Virgil Griffiths
Yana (via remote link): Okay, people, the mission's the same as before: get in, blow the command center, and get out. Get it?

Kwas: Got it.

Yana: Good. Now go for it!

(CLUNK CLUNK CLUNK)

Kwas: Clear fore of the Triton.

(CLUNK CLUNK CLUNK)

Arilou: Whistler to the rear! Taking the shot!

(PSSHOW-CRACKLE)

Echo: WHISTLE.

Arilou: Echo down.

Kwas: Okay, people, move out - two by two, leapfrog towards the colony entrance!

(CLUNK CLUNK CLUNK CLUNK CLUNK)

Myst: In position behind the sub. Tossing flare.

(WHSS-THUD)

dmboogie: Arilou! Jellyfish at two o'clock high!◊

Arilou: Taking the shot.

(KSSHOW-CRACKLE)

Arilou: No go.

dmboogie: Let me give it a go.

(KSSHOW-CRACKLE)

Hallucinoid: SPLAT.

(CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH)

dmboogie: 'Nother jellyfish, twelve high!

Arilou: Taking the shot.

(KSSHOW-CRACKLE)

Hallucinoid: SPLAT.

(VWOINK-BZBZBZ)

Kwas: Must . . . kill . . .

(THUPP-CRACKLE THUPP-CRACKLE THUPP-CRACKLE)

(FZZT-CRACKLE)

(BLOOP)

Echo: WHISTLE.

Princeps: C'mon, Kwas, snap out of it! Echo's not all that - he blew himself up, for fuck's sake!

(VWOINK-BZBZBZ)

(FZZT-CRACKLE)

(BLOOP)

Echo: WHISTLE.

(VWOINK-BZBZBZ VWOINK-BZBZBZ)

Kwas: Must . . . stand . . . alone . . .

Princeps: . . . Yeah, whatever.

Kwas: Wha-? What just happened?

Myst: I dunno what happened to you, but I see one of those Tentaculats comin' up over that arm of the colony!

(THUPP-CRACKLE THUPP-CRACKLE)

Myst: No effect!

Griffiths: I see it!

(KSSHOW-CRACKLE)

Griffiths: Missed! Arilou, you got a clear shot?

Arilou: Affirmative. Brain is lined up.

(KSSHOW-CRACKLE)

Tentaculat: SPLORP.

(CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH)

Myst: Echo to the north of the sub!

Princeps: I see it.◊ Taking the shot.

(KSSHOW-CRACKLE)

Aquatoid: EEEOW!

(SQUISH SQUISH SQUISH SQUISH)

Cousteau: I 'ave an Echo sighted. Taking the shot.

(THUPP-CRACKLE)

Aquatoid: EEEOW!

Cousteau: 'E will no longer be a burden.

(KSSHOW-CRACKLE)

Princeps: Oh, HELL no Echo!

(KSSHOW-CRACKLE)

Echo: WHISTLE.

(SHLERK SHLERK SHLERK SHLERK SHLERK)

Princeps: BRAIN!

(KSSHOW-CRACKLE)

Tentaculat: SPLORP.

(THUMP THUMP THUMP)

dmboogie: Whistler outside the lift-room door. Taking the shot.

(KSSHOW-CRACKLE)

Echo: WHISTLE.

(SQUISH SQUISH SQUISH)

Aldred: Echos in the lift room! I count three!

dmboogie: Aldred, catch!

(WHSS-THUD WHSS-THUD)

(WHABOOM)

(INCOMPREHENSIBLE ALIEN SCREAMS FROM THE LIFT ROOM)

Aldred: Sounds like we pissed 'em off, sir!

Kwas: Well, let's get busy killing them off, shall we? Move in, people - clear out that lift garrison!

Aldred: Aye, sir!

(THUPP-CRACKLE THUPP-CRACKLE)

(KSSHOW-CRACKLE)

Echo: WHISTLE.

Gotti: Fire in the hole!

(WHSS-THUD)

(WHABOOM)

(THUMP THUMP THUMP)

Griffiths: Brain on the upper balcony!

(KSSHOW-CRACKLE)

Tentaculat: SPLORP.

Arilou: Aquatoid on the balcony, above the door!

(KSSHOW-CRACKLE)

Aquatoid: EEEOW!

dmboogie: Whistler near the access lift!

(KSSHOW-CRACKLE)

Echo: WHISTLE.

dmboogie: Looks like the lift garrison's clear, sir!

Kwas: Okay, people, make for the lift! Double-time!

(THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP)

PART II: THE COLONY

Kwas: Remember, people, the goal is simple: find the base's Synomium Device, blow it up, then bug out. Understood?

All: Aye, sir!

Kwas: Okay, then! Move it out!

(CLUNK CLUNK CLUNK CLUNK)

(KSSHOW-CRACKLE)

Gotti: Lobster by those spheres! Taking the shot!

(THUPP-BLOOP)

(KSSHOW-CRACKLE)

Gotti: He's still up!

Kwas: Covering fire!

(THUPP-CRACKLE)

(KSSHOW-CRACKLE)

(KSSHOW-CRACKLE KSSHOW-CRACKLE)

Lobsterman: GHROWL . . .

(SHLERK SHLERK SHLERK)

Arilou: BRAIN!

(KSSHOW-CRACKLE)

Tentaculat: SPLORP.

Princeps: Fried brain, now.

(CLUNK CLUNK THUMP THUMP THUMP)

Aldred: Hey, I've spotted the Synomium Device. Moving in to plant a charge.

(THUPP-CRACKLE)

(BLOOP)

(SQUISH SQUISH SQUISH THUD THUD)

Aldred: Charge is set. Fire in the hole!

(WHABOOM WHABOOM)

(ASSORTED ALIEN KLAXONS)

Kwas: Okay, people, that's done it! Let's boogie!

(THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP)

Triton Pilot: Commander Kwas, we got something weird going on up here.

Kwas: What is it, Triton-One?

Triton Pilot: Well, sir, there were a couple Eeks headed for the sub when they all of a sudden just . . . collapsed, sir.

Kwas: They unconscious, Triton-One?

Triton Pilot: Looks it, sir - though they might just be playin' possum. Figured I'd best give you a heads-up, whatever the case.

Kwas: Thanks, Triton-One. Much appreciated.

Commander's Log - Supplemental

The destruction of the Antarctic colony's Synomium Device seems to have had an unusual effect upon the colony inhabitants. It seems that the sudden severing of the connection between the inhabitants and the molecular control network seems to have rendered them unconscious, with the end result that we were able to capture numerous high-ranking Alien officers and several components of the colony itself for further study.

The results of this mission, it seems, will be quite a boon to X-Com's standing in the eyes of the Funding Committe.◊

(As I mentioned before, I have no idea what was going on when TFTD decided to abort the mission with a bunch of KO'ed aliens. But hey, I'll take it!)

Commander's Log - August 29, 2040

Redback Base picked up a large Alien vessel headed for Australia; while Barracuda-Three was shadowing it, the base also received a distress call from Tonga Island. Seems the ship dropped off a load of Echos intent on wreaking havoc at a resort there.

Triton-One's heading out to deal with the Echo threat.

End log.

COMBAT REPORT - AUGUST 29 2040

Personnel deployed:

Commander Kwas
Lieutenant Myst Rose
Lieutenant Princeps Augustus
Ensign x2wolf
Ensign dmboogie
Ensign Jacques Cousteau
Ensign Guido Talbot
Ensign Siegfried Farnan
Able Seaman Arilou
Able Seaman Parson Gotti
Able Seaman Sophie Aldred
Able Seaman Virgil Griffiths

Yana: All right, people, let's make this short and sweet. Terminate Echo with extreme prejudice, avoid civilian casualties if possible, and bring whatever you can back home with you.

Kwas: You heard the man! Move out, people!

(CLUNK CLUNK CLUNK CLUNK)

Kwas: Echo sighted! Whistler, second floor of the hotel!

Princeps: Taking the shot.

(THUPP-WHUMPH)

Echo: . . .

(CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH)

Arilou: Whistler, two rooms over. Lining him up.

(PSSHOW-CRACKLE)

(PSSHOW-CRACKLE)

dmboogie: No you don't either, Echo.

(PSSHOW-CRACKLE)

Echo: WHISTLE.

(WHIRR WHIRR WHIRR)

(FZZZ FZZZ)

Griffiths: Is . . . is that what I think it is?

Kwas: If you think that that's a miniature flying saucer controlled by a brain in a jar, you're absolutely right. Disgusting thing.

(THUPP-CRACKLE THUPP-CRACKLE)

Kwas: No effect. Griffiths?

(THUPP-WHUMPH)

Bio-Drone: . . .

Griffiths: It's down.

(KSSHOW-CRACKLE)

Princeps: Echo by the grassy knoll!

(THUPP-WHUMPH)

Princeps: No effect. Myst?

Myst: On it.

(THUPP-CRACKLE THUPP-CRACKLE)

Myst: No dice.

dmboogie: Let me get a shot at it.

(KSSSHOW-CRACKLE)

Echo: WHISTLE.

dmboogie: Echo is down.

(CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH)

Aldred: I see another one of those brain-saucers on the roof.◊

(WHIRR WHIRR WHIRR WHIRR)

(KSSHOW-CRACKLE KSSHOW-CRACKLE)

Kwas: Got a brain-saucer shooting at me!

(CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH)

dmboogie: Give me a target, Commander!

Kwas: Southwest, past the dead whistler!◊

dmboogie: Got'cha covered.

(KSSHOW-CRACKLE)

dmboogie: No dice. Arilou!

(KSSHOW-CRACKLE)

Arilou: Direct hit . . . no effect.

Griffiths: Let me send a shock bomb downrange.

(THUPP-CRUMP)

Griffiths: Ah, it went into that tunnel over there.

Kwas: Well, at least we shouldn't have to worry about them popping out behind us . . .

(WHIRR WHIRR WHIRR)

Kwas: And it just floated into that house over there.

(VWOINK-BZBZBZ)

Arilou: Uh, Commander? Are you all right?

Kwas: *incomprehensible muttering*

Arilou: If you say so.

(WHIRR WHIRR WHIRR)

Myst: I just saw another brain-saucer go floating past that window!

(VWOINK-BZBZBZ)

(WHIRR WHIRR WHIRR)

Cousteau: Brain-saucer!

(THUPP-CRACKLE THUPP-CRACKLE)

(KSSHOW-CRACKLE)

(WHIRR WHIRR WHIRR)

Kwas: Um, I seem to have been shot in the back.

dmboogie: Don't worry, sir. I'll have you patched up in no time.

(CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH)

(PSSSHT◊)

dmboogie: There, that should take care of the bleeding. Best get back to the Triton, sir - we wouldn't want to lose you.

Kwas: Indeed not.

Cousteau: I shall endeavour to make certain we can see ze brain-saucers. What is it you say? Ah, yes - "Fire in ze 'ole!"

Aldred: I'll do the same.

(WHSS-THUD WHSS-THUD)

(WHABOOM WHABOOM)

Echo: WHISTLE.

Aldred: Well, we may not be able to see 'em, but we sure as hell killed another Eek.

Princeps: I think you might have killed my stunned whistler, Aldred.

Aldred: Er, sorry about that, chief.

(WHIRR WHIRR WHIRR)

Griffiths: Saucer in the hallway, third floor!

(KSSHOW-CRACKLE)

(THUPP-CRUMP)

(KSSHOW-CRACKLE KSSHOW-CRACKLE)

Griffiths: Bloody thing got my leg! MEDIC!

(CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH)

Myst: Right behind you, Griffiths.◊

(PSSHT PSSHT)

Myst: There we go.

(WHIRR WHIRR WHIRR)

(KSSHOW-CRACKLE)

Griffiths: GYAAAH!

Myst: . . . MOTHERFUCKER! I'M GONNA TEAR YOU APART WITH MY BARE HANDS IF IT'S THE LAST THING I DO!

(WHSS-THUD)

(WHABOOM)

Princeps: Two saucers! Taking the shot!

(THUPP-CRUMP)

Bio-Drone: . . .

Myst: One of those fucking saucers is still floating!

Princeps: I see that.◊ ARILOU!

Arilou: On it, Lieutenant!

(KSSHOW-CRACKLE)

Bio-Drone: WHABOOM-SPROING-CRACKLE-FZZZ.

Aldred: Jesus Christ, that thing went up like a Cyberdisc. Man, the resort owner is gonna be pissed about this . . . ◊

(CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH)

(KSSHOW-CRACKLE)

Cousteau: Ah, you theenk to keel ze mighty Cousteau, eh? Well, you shall see I do not fall so easily to ze alien menace! 'Ere, 'ave a grenade!

(WHSS-THUD)

Cousteau: And now, I bid you adieu!

(CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH)

dmboogie: Oi, Cousteau, you missed one. Whistler, behind the palm tree.

Cousteau: 'E is all yours, zhen.

(KSSHOW-CRACKLE)

Echo: . . .

dmboogie: Nighty-night, Echo.

(KSSHOW-CRACKLE)

(THUPP-CRACKLE THUPP-CRACKLE)

(WHIRR WHIRR WHIRR)

(KSSHOW-CRACKLE KSSHOW-CRACKLE)

Cousteau: . . . Sacre bleu, did zhat saucer just scratch zhe paint on my armour?!

dmboogie: Doesn't matter, Cousteau. It's going down.

(KSSHOW-CRACKLE)

Bio-Drone: WHABOOM-SPROING-CRACKLE-FZZZ.

(CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH)

Cousteau: Eef anyone 'as a grenade, zhere is a saucer lurking in zhis building.

(CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH)

Cousteau: And, ahem, zhere is a 'whistler' just around zhe corner 'ere.

(THUPP-CRACKLE THUPP-CRACKLE)

Cousteau: Eheh, no 'ard feelings?◊

(CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH)

dmboogie: Got something lurking in the shadows. Taking the shot.

(KSSHOW-CRACKLE)

Echo: WHISTLE.

dmboogie: Echo down.

Cousteau: What is with zis alien? 'E is just standing here.

dmboogie: Don't look a gift horse in the mouth, Cousteau. Kill him.

(THUPP-CRACKLE THUPP-CRACKLE)

Echo: . . .

(KSSHOW-CRACKLE)

Cousteau: OW! Why zhat little floating piece de merde . . . !

dmboogie: x2wolf, take my medkit and go patch Cousteau up. I'll deal with the saucer.

x2wolf: On it.

(CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH)

(PSSHT)

Cousteau: Merci.

x2wolf: Think nothing of it.

(CRUNCH CRUNCH)

dmboogie: Okay, Echo is lined up. Taking the shot.

(KSSHOW-CRACKLE)

Bio-Drone: WHABOOM-SPROING-CRACKLE-FZZ.

(CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH)

x2wolf: Oh, crap. Saucer up the stairwell!◊

(WHIRR WHIRR WHIRR)

dmboogie: I see it. Taking the shot!

(KSSHOW-CRACKLE KSSHOW-CRACKLE)

Bio-Drone: WHABOOM-SPROING-CRACKLE-FZZ.

(CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH)

Arilou: Found a whistler hiding in this closet.

(KSSHOW-CRACKLE KSSHOW-CRACKLE)

Echo: WHISTLE.

(CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH)

Talbot: Found another whistler in this cave!

(THUPP-CRACKLE THUPP-CRACKLE THUPP-CRACKLE)

Echo: *incomprehensible scream of rage*

(THUPP-CRUMP)

Talbot: . . .

Echo: . . .

Kwas: Aldred, you're closest. Go find out what happened.

(CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH)

Aldred: Looks like Echo got caught in the blast from the thermal shock bomb it fired. Both Talbot and the Eek are down.

Kwas: Okay, people. Police the bodies, secure any stunned Eeks, and let's book.

edited 4th Oct '10 10:17:43 AM by RangerSix

Commander's Log - Supplemental

Though we killed most of the alien terrorists - and took the rest alive - the fact that Echo killed several civilians before we could root them all out didn't impress the resort owners much◊. (Of course, the fact that two of their guests got caught in the crossfire didn't help either.)

Still, interrogation of the captured aliens should yield us some useful intelligence, and the weapons we recovered from them will be added to the arsenal.

Commander's Log - August 31, 2040

Well, good news and bad news.

The good news is that we've managed to keep most of the funding organizations happy◊ - and we've unlocked the secrets of Magnetic Navigation.◊ This has given the research teams here at Augustica Base the idea of pairing a miniaturized magnetic-navigation system with the Ion Armour we currently have in use.

They also believe they can design a device which will allow us to intercept Alien transmissions, so that we can figure out what kind of operations Echo is planning in our seas.

The bad news is that the Australasian Conglomerate has decided to stab us in the back, and they've allowed Echo to set up a base in the South Pacific.

In light of this, I'm transferring Myst Rose, Guido Talbot, and dmboogie to Redback Base, to take charge of the garrison there.

Also, we have some new recruits arriving at Augustica Base - Brett Sinclair, Danny Wilde, and clockworkspider. They will be joining the squad assigned to Triton-One.

Commander's Log - September 2, 2040

The science team has finished their autopsy of the whistling lizardlike alien that seems to play a key part in the garrison forces of the Alien colonies.

Apparently the whistle is actually a feedback squeal of some kind, as the alien itself is a cyborg.◊

Most curious.

Commander's Log - September 4, 2040

A small Alien sub was sighted poking around the seas off Antarctica. I dispatched Barracuda-Three to intercept it, and the sub was downed a short time later.

In light of the unusual amount of Alien activity in the South Pacific and Antarctic seas, I've taken the liberty of stationing another Barracuda and a Triton at Redback Base. I plan to recruit more Aquanauts for the garrison team, and I've transferred additional weapons and ammunition to Redback, as well.

I'm sending Triton-Two and its nine-man team out to recover the downed Alien sub.

End log.

And now I'm pretty much caught up, at long last. My apologies for the massive delays, but work has been rather hectic of late.

edited 3rd Oct '10 9:37:11 AM by RangerSix

So Japan and Oceania have both signed up with the aliens. The South Pacific is going to look like hell before this is over.

And again Cousteau is defended by the will of the Almighty...

edited 4th Oct '10 5:11:47 AM by Man Called True

What can I say? He's a lucky bastard XD

COMBAT REPORT - SEPTEM Bber 4 2040

Personnel assigned to combat zone:

Lieutenant Myst Rose
Ensign dmboogie
Ensign Guido Talbot
Seaman Murphy Mac Manus
Seaman Connor Mac Manus
Seaman Manfred Mann
Seaman Jamie Mc Crimmon
Seaman Katy Manning
Seaman Emily Chaudry

Myst: All right, people, listen up. You lot need to know exactly what you're up against, and the only way you're gonna find that out is with practical experience. Today, you're gonna get that experience - we've got a downed sub out here, with hostiles in the area. The plan is simple: get out there, find Echo, kill Echo, and drag their corpses back to base. Get it?

All: Got it!

Myst: Good! All right, form up into three-man teams and get ready to move out!

(WHIRR-CLUNK)

(CLUNK CLUNK CLUNK CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH)

Mann: Lieutenant, we're right next to the Echo sub!◊

Mc Crimmon: Aye, an' there's a bunch of Greek-lookin' ruins about, too.◊

(CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH)

Murphy: Oi, we got one o' those Aquatoids runnin' around!◊

dmboogie: Where is he, Murphy?

Murphy: Far side o' the downed sub.

dmboogie: If you've got a clear shot, take it.

Murphy: Aye, sir!

(THUPP-CRACKLE)

Aquatoid: EEEOW!

Murphy: Wahey, I got the bastard!

(CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH)

Manning: Lieutenant, I'm outside the sub's entrance.

Myst: Hold position and wait for backup. Murphy, meet me at the front of the enemy sub - we'll breach it together with Manning.

Murphy: You got it, Lieutenant.

(WHIRR-CLUNK)

Myst: Echo sighted! Taking the shot!

(THUPP-BLOOP)

Aquatoid: . . .

Myst: Echo is down. Murphy, you and Manning clear the other side of the sub.

Murphy: On it.

(CLUNK CLUNK CLUNK CLUNK CLUNK)

Murphy: Nothing here. Manning, cover the door into the tail section.

Manning: You got it.

(WHIRR-CLUNK)

(KSSHOW-CRACKLE)

Manning: YEEARGH!

Murphy: Manning? MANNING!

(CLUNK CLUNK CLUNK CLUNK CLUNK)

Murphy: Lieutenant, Manning is down, but there's no sign of the shooter!

Myst: I'll check the tail section.

(WHIRR-CLUNK)

Myst: Found him!

(THUPP-CRACKLE)

Aquatoid: EEEOW!

Myst: Shooter's down. Murphy, let's finish sweeping the sub, then meet the rest of the team outside.

Murphy: All right, Lieutenant.

(CLUNK CLUNK CLUNK CLUNK CLUNK)

Murphy: Far side of the sub is clear. You got anything, Lieutenant?

Myst: Negative. Looks like the rest of the sub is clear. Let's get outside and find the rest of the sub's crew.

(WHSS-THUD)

(BLOOP)

dmboogie: Echo by the temple! Taking the shot!

(THUPP-BLOOP)

Aquatoid: . . .

dmboogie: Echo is down.◊

Myst: Looks like that was the last one. Nice work, people - time to take this lot back to base.

Commander's Log - Supplemental

The garrison team from Redback Base did admirably on their first field mission, suffering only a single casualty and capturing two live aliens for interrogation despite their lack of field experience.

Let us hope that they continue in this manner.◊

Don't worry, there's more coming - I've got another backlog to work through, mainly due to a lack of decent Internet access. (Photobucket doesn't seem to like dial-up connections, for some strange reason.)

edited 16th Oct '10 4:46:45 PM by RangerSix

Commander's Log - September 5, 2040

A small sub was detected off the Euro-Syndicate's southwestern coast. Barracuda-One intercepted and destroyed it.

Why do they keep sending them out? They know we'll just blow them to smithereens with a well-placed DUP-Head torpedo . . .

Commander's Log - September 7th, 2040

Today brings us a present from the Augustica Base science team - a new craft weapon. They call it the "Sonic Oscillator".◊

I call it "incredible".

Commander's Log - September 9th, 2040

Yet another report from the science team - this one an autopsy of the so-called Gill Man.◊

It didn't tell us much more than the earlier interrogation, mostly confirming our suspicions: that the Gill Men are, in fact, an ancient race forced into symbiosis with Echo due to the same cataclysm that killed off the dinosaurs.

Commander's Log - September 11th, 2040

Another day, another autopsy - this one of the Lobster Man.◊

We didn't discover anything earth-shattering, though - we'd already learned everything we needed to know from fighting the damn things.

Commander's Log - September 13th, 2040

The science team here is cutting vast swaths through the corpses we have at Augustica Base - an effort which today yielded a most . . . disturbing report.◊

After reading it, I found it necessary to pay a visit to my friends Earl and Ralph.

Commander's Log - September 14th, 2040

Another autopsy report came in today, this one on the Tentaculat.

It's pretty much what it looks like - a giant floating brain that acts much like a Chryssalid.◊

Commander's Log - September 16th, 2040

I guess the science team needed to take a break from all of the autopsies; this time, their report was on an enhanced version of the sensors used by the Particle Disturbance Grenade.

They call it the Particle Disturbance Sensor.◊ Guess what it does.

(Mind you, it could come in handy for hunting down elusive Alien terrorists . . . )

Commander's Log - September 21st, 2040

Another small sub was caught poking around the area near Augustica Base. I had Barracuda-One shadow it. Once it was far enough away that we could be sure it wouldn't know where the submarine came from, Barracuda-One opened fire with its new Sonic Oscillators.

As expected, the enemy sub was disintegrated.

Commander's Log - September 28th, 2040

Finally, the science team has unlocked the secrets of the weapon that blew up my Coelecanth earlier this year.

It's called the Disruptor Pulse Launcher◊, and it's essentially a pistol-sized version of the Blaster Bomb Launcher of the First Alien War.

Its only real drawback is that it's only useful underwater.

Still, this should make colony assaults easier: a few well-placed rounds◊ from this thing would likely neutralize most - if not all - of the surface garrison.

Earl and Ralph? Ralph I got, but you lost me with Earl.