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Topic: X-COM Monday Nights Campaign (Read 4486 times) |
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vanya mia
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There was a non-denominational military service for those who had lost their lives, as their bodies were despatched of base. Very short, so that all could attend regardless of shift duty, but the hanger held a sense of powerful emotion none the less. It could have been any of us. She couldn't help but think. It could have been me. It very nearly was Jane.
A very thoughtful Catalina pulled her comrades to one side after the service before they headed back to work. "Folks, no one commented on my question about making more medikits, so we have some stock each. Can we think about it seriously, eh?" She glanced back over her shoulder at the now closed hanger door. "It's bad enough anyone had to die, that doctor most of all, but I really don't want that to be any of us."
((OOC- Alien & Aliens quotes everywhere! I count 6 and a nod to another one.  ))
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| « Last Edit: on: Jul 17, 2008, 7:04PM » |
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TheBaldMan
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Buzz worried that he would never get the hang of the new armour no matter how hard he tried, as once more he reluctantly stepped out of the newly made blue suit. Dejectedly he walked away down the corridor.
As he strolled down the hall his mind turned to the alien ship. He wondered if he would be allowed to assist the research team. He thought it would be great to get the thing flying. Not that he wanted to fly, but the puzzle of how the thing worked fascinated him. Buzz went to check things out.
//LB, I don't know what you want to use but here are Buzz's skill points in the areas I think pertain to helping IF possible:
Computer Use 15
Craft Electronic 12
Decipher Script 14
Knowledge Technology 14
Research 12
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| « Last Edit: on: Jul 18, 2008, 12:40AM » |
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Lazybones
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"General Grant, sir," the engineer says, interrupting a conversation between three men wearing enough brass to sink a good-sized destroyer.
The senior officer turns. "What is it... Hendricks?"
"Sir, it's this computer program, for the new fighter's fly-by-wire system."
"Yes?" The general's demeanor indicates that he would like this interruption to end, and swiftly.
"Well..." the man says, pausing to wipe his brow.
"Out with it, man! We've got a gods-damned alien invasion going on here!"
"When I tried installing it to my test rig, it tried to reformat the operating system! And there are no safety protocols, the subroutines aren't commented, and I don't know where to begin on this override access system..."
"Son," the general says, forcefully enough to cut the flustered orderly off. "I've got my orders, and I'm giving you yours. Just install the damned thing." |
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Buzz Research (12), Computers (15): roll 13 (25/28, complete success). Result: time to construct FIRESTORM craft reduced 30%.
"Damn it," Grace says, as she slips, and the heavy spray gun traces a long line of slick black onto the floor of the workshop.
"Problem?" Catalina asks, from where she is overseeing another tech complete modifications to an X-COM armored helmet.
Grace puts down her gun and pulls up the mask protecting her face. "It's this composite material. It doesn't want to bond to the alien alloys, and it's not spreading evenly over the armor. The suggestions you've given this week have been helpful, and I think this improved suit will help you blend into the shadows better, but I'm afraid that you're just going to have to live with being a bit less stealthy than you're used to. And I don't think that any of this is going to help with the new Powered Armor design, but maybe we're getting a bit ahead of ourselves."
"Whatever you can do, Grace," Cat says. "Every little bit helps." |
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Catalina Hide (15): roll 13 (28, complete success, but in a skill secondary to the task). Result: upgrade to Personal Armor: +2 Hide. Upgrading additional suits will require 4 engineer/weeks to complete (so 4 engineers can complete a suit mod in a week).
Jane sights down the length of the pistol, nodding as the lights pop up on the inside of her VDU. The weapon flashes, and a bright red dot appears on the chest of the targeting dummy as the laser beam superheats the armored surface.
"Good," she says. "How quickly can you upgrade all our existing pistols?"
The young engineer shakes her head. "I'm afraid that the upgrade relies on some pretty difficult electronics both inside the gun and in your helmets. We can do it, but it's not going to be easy." |
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Jane Craft (Mechanical) (11): roll 9 (20, moderate success). Result: laser pistols gain +1 to hit, but require 3 engineer/weeks to upgrade each weapon.
Vasily emerges from the crowded air vent. The muscles in his back are on fire, and his coverall is both torn and covered in grease and dirt, but there's a smile on his face. Behind him, the curses of the engineers still working in the vents filters out of the opening. The scientists working nearby look up and wrinkle their noses.
"I not know much about mechanics or engineering," he says, as he tosses his demolitions bag onto the ground, "But I can say this very clear; no alien is getting through those vents that easy again." |
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Vasily Tactics (5): roll 20 (25, complete success). Result: improved security installed in X-COM vent system.
+100xp for Buzz, Vasily, Catalina, and Jane for successful skill use. (Come on, somebody's got to roll a "1" at some point!)
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| « Last Edit: on: Jul 19, 2008, 8:24PM » |
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dira
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Yoav, flying back from an extended leave of absence from the x-com base sends out an email to explain where he was.
FROM: DR. Yoav Yered
TO: MEMBERS, ALPHA TEAM, DR. KIMBERLY WAGNER
CC: MICHAEL GARRET, GRACE THELON BELUCA
RE: Explanation of Absence
Shalom,
I would first like to apologize for my recent and unexplained absence from the base. I was called back to Israel due to a death in my family. In the Jewish tradition we morn for seven days so I was out of contact until that period was over.
While I have been away, I have been doing a bit of research on the effectiveness of the health kits that we currently use.
Before I came to X-Com, I had worked on a project to increase the usefulness of healing in the field of battle. My contribution to the project was the development of tiny robots (Nanites) that will enter the blood stream and for a short time, using the bodies electrical current, repair damaged cells and tissue.
I believe I have developed a solution and I have sent ahead a test healing pack with the new Nanites installed. When the pack arrives, please send it to the research labs to be tested for effectiveness.
I will be landing in two hours and I should be back on base soon.
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OOC: I do not have access to my character stats at the moment. I will post with relevant skills later tonight. By the way I hope this is ok for research and such, and I am sorry I was absent all last week.
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Jenniza
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FROM: Jane Swift
TO: DR. Yoav Yered
RE: Leave of Absence
You have my condolences to you and your family for your loss. Would it be okay with you if I had a tree planted in Israel in their honor?
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Jenniza
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ooc: YAY!!!!!!!!! I can post on the forums again!!!! You have NO idea the aggravation I went through today to get access to the forums... for awhile I was getting CHINESE... then I was getting only a thin line at the top of the screen and ZERO access to the ENTIRE forums system including sign-up pages...
I had even worse problems on my harddrive with a GB of INVISIBLE files (not hidden files) in the recycle bin that blocked up vital functions like CLEAN DISK and VIRUS SCAN.
This on top of having complications due to outpatient surgery THIS MORNING....
Yes, you could say I had a bad day 
So, if any aliens give me a hard time tonight, so help me G-d, they going to be in trouble.
See you in a few minutes.
hugs,
Stephanie
Oh, I also spent several hours downloading and installing the ENTIRE set of downloads needed for NWN 1.69 critical download , CEP 2.1, D2 Modern 1.3, WoRms, portraits, etc, for Bob's computer in case my computer died suddenly.
Yes, I was busy and exhausted and several mixed emotions and checking in with Bob all day. He's awesome. I love him
I was hit with a massive wave of viruses and trojans early this morning which started all this junk.
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| « Last Edit: on: Jul 22, 2008, 1:36AM » |
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chiz
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Jim had a great conversation with the beta boys, including Jurgen and Perez, some good yuks all around. But after thinking about it, it was a bit discomfiting, as it sounded like Vas had spent more time working on base defense tactics with them than with his own team. Well, maybe that's because Vas thinks of you as a doc, not as a soldier. Though Jim had done well in Harvard Medical School, and had practiced emergency medicine for more than just a couple of years now, he'd grown up in a family where hunting wad practiced by everyone over 5. Which meant that a six, he'd shot his first deer. I'm not just a doctor, I'm a soldier too. Jim ran his hand over his laser pistol. I know how to use this, guys....
Jim waved goodbye to the beta boys - not a bad bunch, except for Mr. Musclehead - and headed back to the med lab, to finish up some more heal-kits. At the rate they'd been going through them recently, they needed all they could make...
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| « Last Edit: on: Jul 22, 2008, 1:44AM » |
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dira
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OOC: For the health kit upgrades Skills I think apply:
Craft(Electronic) = 12
Research = 12
Knowledge(Technology) = 14
Computer Use = 13
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Lazybones
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+600xp for full-party IC posting.
+100xp extra for skill use for Catalina, Jane, Vasily, and Buzz.
I didn't get a chance to fit your skills in this week, dira, but we can roll it into next week's forum activity.
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| « Last Edit: on: Jul 22, 2008, 1:46AM » |
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Jenniza
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FROM: Jane Swift, X-COM Field Agent
TO: Michael Garret, X-COM UN Liaison
RE: Mission Report – X-COM, France, Europe
It was supposed to be a safe and normal visit to X-COM Europe in France, the newest facility where we’d meet European Liaison Jacques Nemot. We were told not to blow up the place; but to be prepared for trouble. The first signs of trouble were there were no one there; but, no American guards inside and one outside, other than our French liaison. There were literally no researchers, workers, doctors, etc. to give the place life. The second warning sign was the place was sitting out in the open as an easy target rather than buried under a mountain or something safe. When pressed for details for defenses, he said they relied on low profile and a nearby fighter air base and the two Interceptors we lent them and the new advanced aircraft program… stupidly I supplied the name and he all but sneered at the name in retrospect. He also led us to a blacked out corridor that he claimed was unfinished. We bought the flimsy excuse. Hen he left us to take a private phone call. Within about one minute the entire facility was nearly destroyed around us and caved in. One of the guards was dead. Obviously the liaison officer had something to do with the massive explosion and/or attack on the facility. Dr. Yered was the first to try using his improved laser on the rocks blocking the stairwell out of the facility. I ascertained that precisely placed laser shots cutting through the rocks would not cause a cave-in and began cutting through… others joined me. Catalina and Yoav were the first to squeeze through and were greeted with an ambush of Sectoids outside. We patched up, regrouped and went outside in force under cover and kicked their butts. By radio, we ascertained that Pilot Ken was under fire and we began to Bug Out. This is where things got worse: humans were now firing on our positions, so I took my laser rifle and cleaned out a large number of them from extreme range. The remainder of Alpha Team cleaned up the mess. After that, there was a barricade with more humans… I picked up one of their advanced Spectre SMG’s… very nice weapon… so anyway, blew them all away one by one from cover… then came the Sectoid cavalry It was a real shooting gallery by the time we left and heard the news that the French signed an accord with the aliens.
I’m understandably concerned how this effects things. How does this effects …. “certain” individuals at HQX in key positions? Will you be issuing statements?
ooc: LB's issued a post yesterday about NWC's status... you might want to read it and send him your email address and mark down his.
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| « Last Edit: on: Jul 23, 2008, 12:03PM » |
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Lazybones
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I left my copy of my notes file on my work computer so I'll post tonight (assuming the site is up) with the latest from Doctor Wagner, and information to address Jenniza's question above.
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Lazybones
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GW: I got your e-mail, thanks.
VM: Sorry to lose you (for a week). Remember, if one of those Frenchmen takes a call and leaves the room, THEY are coming!
Jen: There's a thread in General for discussion of the site outages. The forums were out a bit earlier for me, but just came back on a few minutes later. I know that Rizzen and Gilaun are working on it.
Now, for some content posts (heh, lots of reading material, but you can skim to the end if you're just interested in the tech options for this week).
* * * * *
"All right, we've got the feed... all right... we're sending you, live, to Gillian St. John, who is at the border crossing in Strasbourg. Gillian? Gillian?"
"I'm here, Olivia. This is... excuse me... yes, Terry, let's get back from the crowd a bit... Olivia, this is Gillian St. John of the BBC World Service, at the border crossing between France and Germany. As you can see, it's a bit chaotic right now, although it's quieter now that it was a few hours ago. Local authorities estimated that a hundred thousand people have left in the last fifteen hours, since the French announcement at the United Nations... The Bundeswehr has set up an armored infantry battalion here around dawn... Terry, show those tanks... as you can see, they're watching, but not doing anything to interrupt the flow of refugees."
"And Gillian, are the French forces trying to stop the exodus?"
"No, no, Olivia, they don't seem to be, but they aren't letting anyone in the other way, no one is being allowed into France."
"That's consistent with what we've heard. Gillian, what about these people, leaving their home country? What are they saying?"
"Well, Olivia, I've talked to a few dozen people, and they are feeling pretty overwhelmed, obviously. One man said that the Free French are already fighting the invaders, but for the most part, it's been pretty muted on all sides. As you know, President Auguste Laval stated this morning that his goal was to, let's see, I have the copy here... 'To quickly bring France back into the community of nations, once the rest of the world learns to embrace peace, as we have...' I don't know, Olivia, but thus far, we haven't heard much else."
"Thank you, Gillian. Stay tuned to the BBC for the latest on this situation."
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Lazybones
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You overhear an argument. Only later you wonder if the door to the briefing room was left open on purpose.
"She's a security risk, Garret, and if you can't see that, you're a fool."
"Counselor Beauvois has already rejected the actions of her home government, as have the other two X-COM staffers who are of French origin."
"That's not good enough..."
"It will have to be, Agent Drake. X-COM is under United Nations sponsorship, and is not an agency of the United States government."
"I don't know if you are just an idealist, or naive, Garret. Jane Smith isn't going to be the only one asking these questions. If you..."
"Agent Drake, tensions are high all around. I don't need you or anyone else inflaming them further by promoting some sort of pogrom within our organization."
"It will come to a head, whether or not I do anything. And my government isn't going to sit around while a major country--a nuclear power, need I remind you--goes over to the aliens."
"Agent Drake, what are you--"
"Just think about what I said."
The door slams open, and Drake stalks out. She shoots you a dark look as she leaves, but doesn't say anything further.
* * * * *
Dr. Wagner's weekly e-mail.
FROM: DR. KIMBERLY WAGNER, X-COM RESEARCH LEAD
TO: MEMBERS, ALPHA TEAM
CC: MICHAEL GARRET, GRACE THELON BELUCA
RE: New Research/Manufacturing Priorities
Well, it looks like we won't have the new labs and workshops coming on line at X-COM Europe after all. But we still have to go on.
Work on the Laser Defense research is going well. Grace is getting her crews ready to install the new system once it is ready.
The interrogation of the Sectoid Leader you captured has yielded copious amounts of information. We are still assimilating the knowledge that we have deciphered regarding the alien mental abilities. However, we have already added a great deal to our knowledge about the Sectoid race, and more importantly, the origins of the alien threat.
Grace reports that the first Laser Heavy Weapons Platform has been completed, and is ready for field use.
Research Priorities (20 points total):
Completed Research:
- Laser Weapons: Research complete. Laser pistols may be constructed.
- Laser Rifle: Research complete.
- Laser Cannon: Research complete. All future interceptors will be equipped with this weapon.
- Motion Scanner: Research complete.
- Heavy Weapons Platforms: Research complete. Laser Tanks may be constructed.
- Alien Medicine: Research complete. The new Medical Lab will produce eight medikits per week. Dr. White reports that when the lab is involved in research projects, such as alien autopsies, the rate of production will slow. Further upgrades may come from research into alien life forms.
- Alien Alloys: Research complete. Personal Armor is now available for manufacture.
- Sectoid Prisoner: Research complete.
- Alien Navigation: Research complete.
- Alien Power Supply: Research complete.
- Sectoid Autopsy: Research complete.
- Snakeman Autopsy: Research complete.
- Floater Autopsy: Research complete.
Current Projects:
- Laser Defense (10): A high-powered defense system to protect X-COM bases.
Available Projects:
- Plasma Pistol: An alien weapon.
- Plasma Rifle: A more powerful alien weapon.
- Small Launcher: An alien stun weapon.
- Vibroblade: An alien melee weapon.
- Alien Grenade: These explosives seem to be based on a biochemical agent combined with a tiny amount of Elerium-115.
- Powered Armor: Chief Engineer Beluca reports that we can now research an improved armor based upon the Elerium-115 power source. (ooc: this is medium armor)
Current Prisoners held in Alien Containment:
- Snakeman Soldier: We have several of these aliens in captivity. Once research is complete they will be sent to a central holding facility off-site.
- Floater Navigator.
- Floater Soldier.
- Sectoid Engineer.
Manufacturing Priorities (30 points)
- Research Capacity: Research Labs 1 and 2 are fully operational. Further expansions will run into problems due to base size limitations.
- Medical Capacity: the Medical Lab is fully operational.
- Manufacturing Capacity: Workshops 1, 2, and 3 are fully operational. Further expansions will run into problems due to base size limitations.
- Base Defense: Missile Defense has been completed.
- Laser Pistol (10): Seven units have been constructed. Units may be constructed with an integrated VDU targeting system (+3 engineer-weeks per unit).
- Laser Rifle: One unit has been constructed.
- Motion Sensor: Two units have been constructed.
- Personal Armor (10): Six suits have been constructed. Helmets have been upgraded to resist mental attacks. Units may be constructed with stealth augmentation (+4 engineer-weeks per unit)
- Medikit: Current level: Advanced Medikit 1. Doctor White's medical lab can construct eight of these kits each week without compromising our manufacturing capacity. If you wish to dedicate additional resources to the project, the kits can be produced at a faster rate.
- Heavy Weapons Platform (10): Rocket Launcher: One prototype (damaged) produced. One Laser Tank produced.
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Your current allocations are listed in parens above.
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Lazybones
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One last post!
* * * * *
Shortly after you receive Dr. Wagner's e-mail, you get another chime from your xPhone.
FROM: GRACE THELON BELUCA, X-COM CHIEF ENGINEER
TO: MEMBERS, ALPHA TEAM
CC: MICHAEL GARRET, KIM WAGNER
RE: Proposal
Guys, I have a proposal for you to consider before you set allocations for this week.
After the disaster in France, and the attack on our base, it's clear that we are going to have to deal with increased pressure on our HQX facility. That means self-reliance may become a necessity.
In working with some of the physical sciences research team, and Chief Hallorand, I've drawn up plans for an Elerium-based reactor for our facility, cannibalizing parts from the recently captured alien craft. This reactor would be located near the Elerium storage facility, currently located on Sub-Level 2D approximately 150 meters below HQX's main level.
You'll note that the plans I am submitting require the full commitment of the entire engineering staff, and all of the physical sciences research team until the project is complete. This is a serious commitment of our resources, I know. But the benefits are signifcant. I am projecting an increase in power output that will fully operate our Laser Defense systems at top capacity, as well as an increase in research and manufacturing efficiencies by twenty percent.
I have another request that I believe is essential to the success of this project. Doctor Okwelume is the most knowledgeable person we have when it comes to the alien power systems. I need him; we need his expertise. You can implement whatever security you feel is necessary, but without his help, this project will take longer, and may not be a success. I feel that if Dr. Okwelume agrees to help, and Alpha members contribute their expertise, we may be able to finish the project within a week, working 3 shifts 24/7.
This would require a steady supply of Elerium-115 to fuel the reactor. Currently our storage facility is at 58% capacity, and we're planning on adding more capacity using the damaged storage units you captured from the alien wreck in Wisconsin. I don't anticipate the reactor needing much Elerium (a little goes a VERY long way with that stuff), but keep in mind that it will also be needed for the new interceptors, and the Powered Armor (assuming you ever get around to that!). But at worst case, if we run out of fuel, we're back to our usual resources.
I appreciate your attention to this proposal. I know it is radical, but desperate times, etc. etc.
Thanks, Grace |
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OOC: To clarify, Grace's project would require 10 of your 20 research points, and all 30 of the manufacturing points. It would result in a permanent +20% output on both once complete (i.e. 24 research, 36 manufacturing, going forward), and a +50% to the Base Defense rating granted by your Laser Defense system, once complete. Other small efficiencies may be realized over time, however you'll only get these benefits for as long as you have Elerium in the base storage facility.
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R. Yoav Yered 