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Topic: X-COM Monday Nights Campaign (Read 4486 times) |
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Lazybones
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I've seen the massive damage rule in effect in testing, and that was likely the culprit here. The good news is that it works against the bad guys as well. I suppose it was karma, because Buzz took down that big robot in week 1 with one lucky shot due to the massive damage rule.
Heh, more reason to be careful when aliens are flinging plasma bolts around. Wait until you see what you'll face later in the campaign.
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| « Last Edit: on: Apr 30, 2008, 11:53PM » |
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Jenniza
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Also, unless an alien is possessed, aliens don't typically have the NWN AI ability to think with the option to use cover and/or run away, like we do... unless Mulu and/or LB reprogrammed the AI... I've seen module designers do that and more and it's scarey to watch units cooperating with each other like a true combat unit.
So we need to think on our feet and do more than just fight and die.
Sorry to be blunt.
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vanya mia
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Report Mission 1, Alpha Team: Zion National Park, Utah
Reporting Operative: Case Officer Catalina De Farrago
On landing in Zion we proceeded on foot to the Ranger Station. The ranger was already aware of our arrival and greeted us outside. We obtained basic information from him as swiftly as possible. He reported having seen lights in the sky, and hearing sounds, to the north of the Station. He was unable to identify the lights, but stated he was certain it was not a helicopter. An accurate assessment of the height at which the lights were travelling was not possible but believed them to be relatively low level.
“Good morning, Counsellor Beauvais. No thank you, I recently finished breakfast. Fine so far, though I need to take the recreation area for yoga and the only place for anything beyond basic floor exercises is the hanger. No, no. I’m sure I will encounter worse facilities in future postings, and so far no one has complained about having to watch. Certainly if you wish.”
The ranger also reported that the next day he began a journey to check on a hunter, by the name of Jackson, known to reside in a valley in the vicinity of the sighting. At the entrance to the valley a wolf attacked the ranger. It was not rabid but aggressive beyond normal expectations. He shot and killed the animal and returned to the station to call in the incident. On returning to the carcass later that evening he found it gone.
“I’ve been instructed to keep an open mind, or by now I would have dismissed it as nothing more than fantasy, the whole thing was far too much like Close Encounters. These locations are very isolated, it would be easy to let the imagination run freely. No Counsellor, I can assure you that is not going to be a problem. The service does not recruit people who are easily shaken.”
Proceeding north to the valley we discovered a dead bear, apparently killed by some form of weapon that caused burning. There were no visible tracks in the area of the carcass apart from bear and wolves. We continued into the value and located the hunter’s cabin. It had been severely damaged structurally and interior furnishings were destroyed. The only item recovered from the wreckage was the rifle submitted for examination, and there was no sign of blood in the cabin. Tracks were found in the immediate vicinity of the cabin. These were apparently made by a barefoot humanoid, approximately half the size of an adult, but with three toes. The potential for them to have been created artificially was not excluded as a possibility.
“I’ve not had time to get to know them fully, Counsellor. Kasprjak has a nice ass and Allen plays a mean hand of cards, but that’s it so far. I like to know a person a little more deeply before drawing conclusions. Professionally you mean? I believe we need to work consistently as a unit, to assess a situation fully before any one member of the team acts, but these are early days, Counsellor.”
It was then we were attacked by a pack of wolves. The creatures were not deterred by gunshots or wounds, and continued to assail us until killed outright. Operatives Allen and Olloff sustained significant wounds, which Allen treated at the scene. I retrieved a portion of a wolf carcass for analysis in this instance, now with research. A decision was made to advance into the valley and we came across a pool not far on. There was an egg like object near the pool, and a green substance in the pool itself. There were more of the three-toed tracks in the area but before I could check the object itself Operative Swift disturbed it, triggering a protective device. No serious injuries were sustained as a result. The object is now with research.
“The footprints were strange, but there is nothing to say they were not a diversion. The egg was certainly unusual, but I never saw it closely as it was whisked up before I had a chance to do so. It could well have been a ruse by terrorists to confuse investigators. Myself I do not consider either to be proof positive of extra-terrestrial activity, despite the ready belief of some of my fellows.
At this point we came under attack by some form of flying machine, a small disk armed with a high-powered weapon. It is a possibility that the device Operative Swift triggered warned it of our presence. The device was resilient but exploded when one bullet found some vital element of its construction. Operative Swift recovered the remains of the device for analysis. During the encounter Operative Olloff received a critical injury necessitating his return to the transport. I remained to check the valley while the rest of the unit transported him, but no further information revealed itself. Shortly after I received the recall order and returned to the transport.
“Yes, Olloff’s situation was unfortunate, but we’ve barely met Counsellor. Though it would be preferable not to lose a useful operative I am aware of the potential for loss of life. It has made me no more fearful for my own, if that is what you are trying to ascertain. I can assure you the Service trains its officers very thoroughly in the realities of field work.”
Prompt departure resulted in failure to assess the interior of the ranger outpost. Lack of co-ordination prior to the egg being picked up eliminated any possibility of checking its relationship to the green substance, whether it was indicated that the object had been placed their directly, or any undisturbed information upon it’s surface on sight.
“Thank you for your time, Counsellor, and yes, I will. Goodbye for now.”
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Jenniza
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Dr. Beauvais stopped Jane in the hallway, “Do you have some time to stop by my office, Agent Swift?”
Jane replied, “I’m on my way to the gun range for some practice, perhaps later.”
The counselor replied with a smile, “I look forward to our meeting. Have a good practice round.”
Jane nodded, “Thank you,” and went on her way.
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| « Last Edit: on: May 3, 2008, 6:52PM » |
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Jenniza
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Dr. Beauvais found Jane in the hallway once again, “Could you find time to stop by my office, Agent Swift?”
Jane replied, “I’m headed to the Mess Hall, perhaps later.”
The counselor replied with a smile, “Very well, I look forward to our meeting. Have a good day.”
Jane nodded, “Thank you. You as well,” and went on her way.
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Jenniza
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Once again, Dr. Beauvais tried to track down Jane in the hallway, “Could you stop by my office, Agent Swift?”
Jane replied, “I have a report to write up, perhaps later.”
The counselor replied with a sigh, “Very well, I look forward to our meeting. Have a good day.”
Jane nodded and smiled, “Thank you. You as well,” and went on her way.
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Jenniza
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Dr. Beauvais was really trying hard now to track down Jane; but, Jane was elusive. The counselor found Jane heading down the hall in a rush, “I need to see you in my office when you have time, Agent Swift.”
Jane replied, “I'm needed for some questioning down in the research lab about the specimens we brought back, perhaps later.”
The counselor replied with a slight smile, “Very well, I look forward to our...”
Jane nodded and smiled, “Can't talk... gotta go.” and off she zoomed.
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TheBaldMan
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"Dr. Beauvais, I don't know what else to say...I...I can't lose the feeling of death..." he rubbed his arms as he clutched his chest, arms folded across what was once a gapping hole. "I can't help but feel something missing...something else...something odd." He looked at the counselor eyes filled with a strange emptiness. "How did they fix me, I mean...the only thing I remember was looking down and seeing a gapping hole! I'm not a physician but what did they do to fix it...is it all real. I should be dead." He was quiet for a long time slightly rocking back and forth not willing to let his mind consider some of the more paranoid options. Whatever they had done whether it felt normal or not he was alive.
"Well Doc, nice talking to ya but I'm going to go shower...can't seem to get that medical stink off of me." He did not wait for her to respond he got up, wincing slightly, and left. Maybe this time he would have the courage to examine his wound.
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| « Last Edit: on: May 4, 2008, 7:32PM » |
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chiz
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I am going to miss the game tomorrow. Looks like my flight to San Diego will be about an hour short of landing at game time. I guess Dr. Allen must have developed an infection in his leg after the injury last week. See ya all in two weeks!
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Jenniza
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Dr. Beauvais again tried to find Jane; it was like a cat-and-mouse game with her. The counselor caught her once aain in the hallway, “I really need to meet with you, Agent Swift.”
Jane replied, “I'm on my way to a live fire exercise, perhaps later.”
The counselor replied with a roll of her eyes, “Very well, ...”
Jane nodded and smiled, “Sorry, can't stay and chat, I'm late... gotta go.” and off she zoomed.
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Jenniza
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Dr. Beauvais was not giving up now; she found Jane near the dorms, "Do you have time now..."
Jane was off like a dart, "Flight practice with Pilot Yushi, perhaps later," leaving the counselor just standing there in mid-sentence.
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| « Last Edit: on: May 5, 2008, 1:45PM » |
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Lazybones
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Eleven hours.
That is how long you spent in the swampy expanse of the Big Torch Key, one of the furthermost of the Florida Keys. While the island was only about 25 miles east from the bustling metropolis of Key West, you might have been a million miles away from civilization for all you knew. With Dr. Allen temporarily assigned to help Stanley White with his research into the alien biomatter, you are temporarily without a team doctor. In his place Dr. Baron rejoins the team, carrying a first aid kit, although after what happened last time, that is hardly reassuring.
The investigation was a bust almost from the start. The local "eyewitnesses" who had seen the UFO turned out to be individuals of extremely dubious reliability, lacking erudition, education, and in some cases, teeth. The one thing that they had possessed, universally, was a knowledge of cable television, especially those popular shows about "flyin' saucers" and "them aliens that come down and abduct folks". Their own reports were colored by an apparent desire to be featured on one or more of these programs. With a few simple questions, Dr. Baron is able to poke numerous holes in their spotty and often contradictory testimony.
Still, it was a lead, and after your experience in Utah you moved diligently to investigate. You found mudpits, snakes, and mosquitos by the millions, but no signs of any alien activity. Radiation scans turn up negative. The only thing of note that you find is a crocodile that seeks to interview Dr. Baron, but you are able to dissuade it with a few well-placed shots. An examination of the creature finds that it is a normal example of its species, with no indication that it was affected by the alien substance like the wolves in the mountain valley in Utah.
It is almost dark when you return to the Skyranger, covered in mud and sweat, exhausted, and ready for nothing more than a hot shower and a meal. You strap yourselves in, almost able to sleep over the rumbling jets of the transport, as it lifts off from Florida and turns back on course toward your base.
OOC
We'll begin tonight en route back to HQ from the above mission. I'll port Dr. Baron into headquarters for basic provisioning prior to the start of play. At Jenniza's request, I also put in some biological sample bags, so you don't have to get alien gunk on your nice duds. 
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| « Last Edit: on: May 6, 2008, 12:20AM » |
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Jenniza
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Dr. Beauvais was hot on Jane’s trail and almost caught up with her. They rounded the corner, “I need to see you in my office, Agent Swift.”
Jane countered with, “Gymnastics exercise, perhaps later.”
The counselor retorted, “When?”
The elevator doors closed as Jane tried to answer. The counselor stood there from the distance frustrated.
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Jenniza
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Scene: Base Chief Mark Hallorand’s Office
Two security officers akin to he stereotypical “Military Police” escorted Agent Swift into Base Chief Hallorand’s Office. There didn’t seem to be any need to be rough or forceful and there was no use of restraints; but, the attitude was that they didn’t appreciate their time being wasted.
Base Chief Hallorand began, “That will be all,” to he security officers, who then left, “I don’t think this will take long.”
Jane stood there at attention.
The chief continued, “I don’t know what type of nonsense you used to get away with; but, it ends NOW. You got that?!” More a statement than a question.
The chief continued, “You know this isn’t a game, right? Do you know what’s at stake?”
Jane replied, “The extinction of the human race and possibly all life on Earth, or worse?”
The chief replied, “Well, I wouldn’t be so melodramatic; but, you get the point. Now are you going to that appointment or do I have to make that an order?
Jane saluted, “On my way, Sir, no more messing around.”
The Chief replied with a long-breathed, “Goooood”
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Jenniza
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Scene: Dr. Beauvais’s Office
“You asked to see me, Dr. Beauvais?” asked Jane, as she walked into Dr. Beauvais’s office.
“Please come in, Agent Swift,” offered Dr. Beauvais, “Have a seat.”
Jane seemed definitely uncomfortable with this concept and Dr. Beauvais sensed it.
“What would you like to talk about?” asked the counselor.
“You called me in here,” replied Jane with a bewildered look.
“True… you HAVE been avoiding me. Why is that?” asked the counselor.
“Not much to talk about?” replied Jane matter-of-factly.
“I won’t bite or shrink your head if that’s what you’re concerned with…” joked the counselor, trying to lighten the mood.
“But it goes on my record, right?” replied Jane.
“You’re concerned about that? What others think?” the counselor considered.
“Not really. I only care about the safety of my team,” replied Jane very firmly, “respect is nice of course; but, I’d trade that any day for safety issues.”
Quickly the counselor replied, “What about your own?”
Jane was impassioned about this; but, she was completely under control, “I value my life as much as anyone else’s under normal circumstances; but, when I originally signed up for government service it came with an implied understanding that I’d be willing to put my life at risk to save others’ lives. When I was transferred to this unit I assumed that implied risk came with the territory. They may be relative strangers to me; but, if I’m to trust my life to theirs, then they have to know that they can trust their life to me.”
‘Finally, Jane was opening up… time to dig deeper’, thought the counselor. The counselor asked Jane, “What’s this about the ‘egg’ and then the ‘saucer’ and its connection to your team member going down?” The counselor phrased it deliberately that way to gage Jane’s next reaction.
Jane took in a deep breath before replying, “The incident is in two parts as it happened in real-team. Hindsight only suggests in my report that the two incidents are almost certainly connected with let’s say 99.99% certainty for example. So, assume the two are connected somehow. As it played out in real time; however, the egg event happened first and was basically completely over BEFORE the saucer showed up. As such, I stand my decision to take the risk so that the others remained further away before they continued to approach. We’d been through this in the training exercises and everyone denied having experience with booby-traps, demolitions and the like. I’d no reason to believe that anyone suddenly had training where they had none before. I wasn’t going to let someone else take the risk that I wasn’t prepared to take myself. When someone wants to start their training in such areas, I’ll step aside. If I’m wounded of course, sure, I know my limits. Besides Karsprjak, I was the least wounded at he time. As for the saucer showing up…. The training exercises taught us to expect the unexpected. Did I screw up? Did the team screw up? If blame has to be assigned somewhere, fine, let it fall on me, not the others. Otherwise, I’d like to go check on Buzz please. Are we done now?
The counselor asked one final question, “Would you take anything back if you could?”
Jane looked her squarely in the eyes, “I don’t play what-if games like that with peoples’ lives. No, I wouldn’t, at the time there was no way to know at the time that the egg was ‘guarded’ like that. I was tying to protect the others from the first threat and did not know about the second threat. Yes, I learned from the experience; however, that secondary threats can be much worse and will walk away with that very hard lesson learned. If you’re asking me to reevaluate my what-if beliefs…. I’ll think about it. Is that fair, doc?”
The counselor nodded, “Sounds fair. That’ll be all. Give my regards to Agent Olloff.”
Jane nodded and smiled, “Sure thing, doc. Have a wonderful day.”
The counselor smiled in reply, “You as well.”
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| « Last Edit: on: May 6, 2008, 1:02AM » |
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Jenniza
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FROM: Jane Swift, X-COM Agent
TO: Michael Garret, X-COM UN Envoy
RE: Recommendations for Field Agents Handling Unknown Objects
Let’s face it, field agents will be running across all sorts of objects out there. Whether that is us as Alpha Team or additional teams, or anyone else before the objects are secured in quarantine, we need training too in how to handle these things too. Some of these things may be mundane and require no special care. There are some situations; however, where we may be exposed to various levels of basic bio, chemical or even nuclear contamination. Heck, if it’s truly alien technology out there, who knows what types of risks there are: such as spatial or temporal rifts or anything else ripped out of science fiction.
At the simplest levels, however, so that we aren’t totally paralyzed from our duties, basic protocols could be put in place, such as:
- setting patrols while a site is investigated to prevent ambush;
- the most qualified personnel check for various booby-traps and demolitions… even if they work as a team;
- before the object is touched, it’s picked up with something and placed in a sealable container, if possible;
- the team isn’t totally absorbed in these activities to the point of being caught off guard by an ambush
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| « Last Edit: on: May 6, 2008, 1:16AM » |
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Smart Alec
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He'd sat down, and tried to play poker, that first night. For Olloff's sake at least. But the wound in his arm itched, and the chair he'd ended up with had been a little too small, forcing him to sit awkwardly. And the rules they played to were... different, and a little confusing, compared to the game he was familiar with. And the coffee tasted like it was boiled in an engine, and the light was too bright, the music was annoyingly tinny, the TV programmes either incomprehensible or just odd...
A thousand different wrongnesses. He would say nothing, for it was stupid, all of it, and for a decorated soldier of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation to whinge about such things was simply ridiculous. He'd simply played a few hands, grunted an excuse, and gone to his bunk.
The one thing the tiny little phone radio gadget they'd been given couldn't do, it seemed, was pick up Radio Moscow.
***
"So... Vasily. Are you getting settled?"
A pause.
"I am - trying."
***
The whole situation seemed more and more of a joke. On their first trip out, he thought he could remember a genuine feeling of... wrongness in the air. The wolves, the dead bear, the floating disk. But that had been some time ago, and the urgency of the memory was fading. In its' place, the boring debacle in the Florida Quays, or some such spot. Idiot Americans who had probably been drunk, and an angry water-feeder that had tried to eat them, or one of them at least.
In the Armed Forces, he'd held the rank of Major. In the Special Forces, he'd been a Squad Second. Here, he was just a grunt who held a gun while other people talked. It was... like getting busted back down the ranks again.
***
"I know some of the missions must be very different to what you're used to."
"Yes. Different."
***
It rankled. Aliens seemed... unreal, despite the serious stance of X-Com. If they WERE real, though, then why wasn't the Federation putting together their own task force to deal with things? Or had they, and he'd simply ended up in this United Nations freakshow as some sort of diplomatic nod? Or if it WAS all a joke - when would it end, and when was he going home?
***
"Is there anything you'd like to talk about?"
Another pause.
"No."
***
As the clock ticked to the end of the hour and the big soldier simply got up and walked out with nothing more than a nod, Joan tried not to look disheartened - and simply scribbled down a note.
Needs more time.
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| « Last Edit: on: May 6, 2008, 1:41AM » |
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Boomer
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TO: Counselor Joan Beauvois
FROM: Doctor James Baron
RE: initial evaluation
Counselor Joan Beauvois I'm not sure whether our team is in the proper psychological state for whats to come. The problem is I'm not sure myself what is to come. There have been only vague remarks on what we plan to face in the future. The only certain factor about our future is that it will involve heavy combat situations. Initially I thought our russian soldier, with his former combat experience, could lead us, but he seems more comfortable initiating combat than supervising it. I suppose the one question I find myself asking at the moment is which member of our team has what it takes to lead the team.
Sincerely,
Doctor James Baron
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| « Last Edit: on: May 6, 2008, 1:45AM » |
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