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Topic: X-COM Monday Nights Campaign (Read 4469 times) |
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Lazybones
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+900xp for everyone for IC posting. +100xp to Jane and Catalina for successful skill use (I'll post the results of their efforts with tomorrow's post-mission e-mail from Wagner).
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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 – Elerium Supply Route Raid
Sectoids & new guys guarding their Elerium shipment. It was basically a smash’n’grab. We shot down their ship, wiped out their ground troops, boarded their ship, took control of their Elerium shipment, cleared out the level of resistance. Reports from the team were that there were heavy telepathic influences going on from within the ship trying to influence a few of the members of the team. A number of attempts were made by the aliens to detonate the Elerium supply, one of them partially successful, despite us setting sentries. Redoubling of efforts were made to protect the rest of the Elerium supply. Only a small portion was lost in the one attack. One alien was captured and brought back. Meanwhile, Snakemen showed up while the Clean-up Crew was doing their thing, so we wiped out the Snakemen with tear gas grenades and plasma weapons. Everyone bugged out by then, before the three cruisers showed up.
Doc reports that the new creatures have a brain that is much more densely packed than the human brain, possibly accounting for the telepathic issues we encounted on the ship. He had to increase the sedation by several magnitudes just to be on the safe side that there was no signs of brain activity that could be of danger to HQX.
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| « Last Edit: on: Sep 16, 2008, 10:50AM » |
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Jenniza
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Jane stopped by to check on Perez to see how he was doing. She didn't know the Beta team well, admittedly, especially Perez; but, still she wanted to check in on him nonetheless. A few of the others from the teams were there making small talk, so it was not unusual.
Jane typically visited anyone that she heard was in the Sick Bay for extended periods. She felt like they could use all the additional faces they could to cheer them up.
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Lazybones
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on Sep 16, 2008, 10:24 AM, Jenniza wrote:| ooc: um, how did we manufacture 2 Stealth PA suit upgrades AND a motion sensor unit AND a HWP repair kit AND get the Research Lab Three completed on schedule? I was just a bit confused; but, didn't want to hold up the game on that point. |
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Basically I rolled well, you rolled well (well, I rolled well for you), Catalina rolled well, everybody rolled well. Remember there's a certain random factor involved in big projects (in short, I roll a virtual dice to see if they get done early, on time, or late). I'll post my full update tonight.
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Lazybones
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Player skill rolls:
Jane Swift, Contributing to Research Lab 2 Construction: Craft Mechanical +14 (11+14 = 25, complete success with primary skill). Result: +3 engineer/weeks bonus to construction.
Catalina De Ferrago, Motion Sensor Research: Knowledge Technology +9 (17+9 = 26, moderate success with secondary skill). Result: Improved Motion Sensor now available to research, with +1 researcher/week bonus when research begun.
I already awarded the +100xp for the above contributions.
Dr. Wagner's weekly e-mail.
FROM: DR. KIMBERLY WAGNER, X-COM RESEARCH LEAD
TO: MEMBERS, ALPHA TEAM
CC: MICHAEL GARRET, GRACE THELON BELUCA, AGENT INISE DRAKE
RE: Research/Manufacturing Progress Report
Good job on the supply ship raid. The Elerium-115 storage unit is now 73% full, which should be enough to support X-COM operations in the near future. We have also supplied the United States Department of Defense with a small quantity of Elerium, in exchange for their work on the Lightning craft. They are also constructing a second Firestorm interceptor for our use, so keep that Elerium coming.
Interrogation of the captured aliens continues. The Snakeman Leader and Navigator are proving to be a challenge, but we are coming to suspect that they might have knowledge of the alien base in the Southern Hemisphere. Between their knowledge and the data we were able to recover from the alien supply ship, we hope to have a target in the near future. Doctor White informs us that intends to have a "surprise" ready for the aliens by the time that we have identified the location of the enemy base.
Thus far, we have not begun studying the new alien type that you recovered from the supply ship. We are calling this creature an "Ethereal." Based on your experience with mental attacks during the mission, Doctor White agrees that we should improve our security measures before letting the creature regain consciousness.
Work on the Plasma Cannon is complete, and we can now equip our craft with them. Our Firestorm is already being fitted for the prototype of the new weapon, which has approximately 150% of the range and 180% of the stopping power of the prior Laser Cannon. Doctor Sandesh has already submitted blueprints for a Plasma Tank, and we can also construct a Plasma Defense for the base.
Research Lab 3 is now online. Work was completed ahead of schedule and our engineering teams were able to handle your request to apply the adaptive stealth coating to two of your Personal Armor suits. We have vetted the new research staff and while quarters may be a bit crowded in the South Wing for a while, Team 3 is ready to begin work on new projects.
Research Priorities (36 points total):
Completed Research:
- Laser Weapons: Research complete. Laser pistols may be constructed.
- Laser Rifle: Research complete.
- Laser Cannon: Research complete. Laser Defense may be constructed.
- Plasma Cannon: Research complete. All future interceptors will be equipped with this weapon. Plasma Defense may be constructed.
- Motion Scanner: Research complete.
- Heavy Weapons Platforms: Research complete. Laser Tanks may be constructed. Plasma Tanks may be constructed.
- Alien Medicine: Research complete. The new Medical Lab will produce at least twelve 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.
- Elerium-powered Biogenesis Unit: Project complete. Increases Medikit output by 50% or more.
- Alien Alloys: Research complete. Personal Armor is now available for manufacture.
- Powered Armor: Research complete. Helmets have been upgraded to provide resistance from alien psionic attacks.
- Elerium-115 Reactor: Project complete.
- Plasma Pistol: Research complete.
- Plasma Rifle: Research complete.
- Sectoid Prisoner: Research complete.
- Snakeman Soldier: Research complete.
- Floater Navigator: Research complete.
- Alien Navigation: Research complete.
- Alien Power Supply: Research complete.
- Sectoid Autopsy: Research complete.
- Snakeman Autopsy: Research complete.
- Floater Autopsy: Research complete.
- Reaper Autopsy: Research complete.
Current Projects:
- Snakeman Leader (10).
- Snakeman Navigator (4).
Available Projects:
- Heavy Plasma: A massive alien plasma weapon. (ooc: requires the Exotic Firearms Proficiency feat to use).
- 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.
- Advanced Medikit 2: Improves efficiency of current medikits.
- Regenerative Serum 1: Based on data taken from the Russian base, these serums temporarily grant field agents regenerative abilities, but with mild to moderate side effects. Future upgrades may be possible.
- Improved Motion Sensor: Potential improvements in range and resolution to the device. Grace suggests that she might be able to hook the sensor into the Visual Display Units in your helmets, providing a chance at identifying unseen aliens picked up by the sensor.
Current Prisoners held in Alien Containment:
- Snakeman Engineer.
- Floater Soldier.
- Floater Medic.
- Sectoid Engineer.
- Ethereal Leader. Extreme precautions warranted.
Manufacturing Priorities (36 points)
- Research Capacity (36): Research Labs 1-3 are fully operational.
- Medical Capacity: the Medical Lab is fully operational.
- Manufacturing Capacity: Workshops 1-3 are fully operational. Further expansions will run into problems due to base size limitations.
- Base Defense: Missile Defense and Laser Defense have been completed. Plasma Defense may be constructed. Current base defense factor: 40
- Laser Pistol: Nine 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: 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)
- Powered Armor: Three suits have been constructed.
- Plasma Cells: Ammunition for the alien plasma weapons can be constructed, requiring Elerium-115.
- Medikit: Current level: Advanced Medikit 1. Doctor White's medical lab can construct twelve 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.
- Advanced Surgical Kit: An advanced field intervention kit that can stabilize and restore a dying soldier. (ooc: Raise Dead)
- Heavy Weapons Platform: Two Laser Tanks produced. Plasma Tanks may be constructed. It takes 3 engineers one week to restore a seriously damaged HWP to full working order.
- HWP Repair Kit: These repair kits can only be used on HWPs and require about twice the resources of a medikit to construct.
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OOC: Your current allocations are listed in parens above.
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| « Last Edit: on: Sep 17, 2008, 1:38PM » |
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Jenniza
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ooc current scorecard (near as I can tell)
Research Priorities (36 points total)
Completed Research:- Laser research completed: Laser Weapons, Laser Pistols, Laser Rifles, Laser Cannons, Laser Tanks, Laser Defense
- Plasma research completed: Plasma Pistols, Plasma Rifles
- Plasma Cannon – All future Interceptors & Plasma Tanks (and to-be-researched Plasma Defense) will be equipped with this weapon (or based on it). Plasma Cannon with superior range and stopping power compared to the Laser Cannon. However, unlike the laser it requires a supply of Elerium-115 to function.
- Motion Scanner: Research completed
- Heavy Weapon Platform: Laser & Plasma Tanks may be constructed.
- Alien Power Supply: Research completed (Anti-matter w/ Elerium-115)
- Alien Navigation: Research completed (plus alien power coupling device)
- (come free w/ armor) Helmets upgraded to resist alien psionic attacks (+2) and integrated with VDU’s. (Stealth +2 VDU Helmets w/ Gas Masks)
- Alien Alloys: Research completed; Personal Armor available (ooc: light armor);
- Powered Armor – Elerium-115 powered armor available (ooc: medium armor)
- Elerium-115 Reactor (+20% Research,+20% Manufacturing,+50% Base Defense)
- Project FIRESTORM (Advanced new Interceptor) – Research completed
- Alien Medicine – The new Medical Lab will produce twelve 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.
- Advanced Surgical Kit – Resuscitate patients (ooc: one-shot Raise Dead)
- Elerium-powered Biogenesis Unit – increase medikit production by 50-75%, etc
- Prisoners researched: Sectoid, Sectoid Leader, Snakeman Soldier, Floater Navigator
- Autopsies completed: Sectoid, Snakeman, Floater, Reaper
Current Projects: - Improved Motion Sensor: Potential improvements in range and resolution to the device. Grace suggests that she might be able to hook the sensor into the helmet VDU’s, providing a chance at identifying unseen aliens picked up by the sensor.
- Snakeman Leader [?]
- Snakeman Navigator [?]
- (freebie) Project LIGHTNING (Advanced new Skyranger) is underway (ETA 1 weeks)
Available Projects: - Heavy Plasma [20] – A massive Alien plasma weapon. (also requires Exotic Firearms Proficiency)
- Small Launcher (Stunner) [10] – Alien stunner (fires Stun Bombs)
- Vibroblade [10] – Alien melee weapon
- Alien BioGrenade (Elerium-115) [10] – alien biochemical grenade based on Electrum-115
- Alien Medicine (Level 2) [10] – advanced medikit
- Regenerative Serum 1 [20] : Based on data taken from the Russian base, these serums temporarily grant field agents regenerative abilities, but with mild to moderate side effects. Future upgrades may be possible.
Prisoners held in Alien Containment:- Sectoid Engineer [5]
- Snakeman Engineer [5]
- Floater Soldier [5]
- Floater Medic
- Floater Engineer
- Ethereal Leader
Manufacturing Priorities (36 points total)- Note: Future base expansion will run into problems due to base size limitations.
- Elerium-115 Reactor (+20% Research, +20% Manufacturing, +50% Base Defense) (online)
- Manufacturing Labs: 3
- Research Labs: 3
- Medical Labs: 1
- Defense: Missiles & Lasers (Base Defense Rating = 40) ; Soon: Plasma
Current Projects: - Powered Armor [15] : 3 (Soheil, Vasily, Allen) ; laser packs can be left behind, when worn; 2 Russian-model suits retrieved (inferior to ours though); Powered Armor cannot be made into stealth suits
Available Projects: - Laser Pistols [5/8/3] :9 (regular: Buzz, Baron & 1 missing (Yeren?); VDU +1: Allen, Vasily, Yeren, Hadrian, Soheil & Catalina) ; (upgrade: integrated VDU (+1 attack) that can also be made at +3 engineers per week
- Laser Rifles [10] : 1 (Jane) (they come equipped w/ +2 laser-sighted scope standard, Jane has one)
- Motion Scanners [10] : 2 (Catalina & Jane)
- Heavy Weapons Platforms : Laser Tanks: 2 (both damaged) [10 to produce, 3 to repair, it was 7 to upgrade rocket launcher] ; Plasma Tanks: 0
- HWP Repair Kit [6] : 1 (Hadrian) - These repair kits can only be used on HWPs and require about twice the resources of a medikit to construct.
- (come free w/ armor) Helmets have been upgraded to resist alien psionic attacks (+2) and integrated with VDU’s. (Stealth +2 VDU Helmets w/ Gas Masks)
- Personal Armor [10/14/4] : 6 (regular: Vasily, Allen, Yeren; Stealth (+2) (Stealth +2 VDU Helmets w/ Gas Masks): Catalina, Jane, Hadrian); (upgrade: armor can also be treated to be a (+2) stealth suit at +4 engineers per week)
- Plasma Cells: Ammunition for the alien plasma weapons can be constructed, requiring Elerium-115.
- Medikit [3] : Doctor White's medical lab can construct twelve 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.
- Advanced Surgical Kit : 1 (Allen) – Resuscitate patients (ooc: one-shot Raise Dead)
So the suggested list is:
Research: -
- Improved Motion Sensor [?] : Potential improvements in range and resolution to the device. Grace suggests that she might be able to hook the sensor into the helmet VDU’s, providing a chance at identifying unseen aliens picked up by the sensor.
- Snakeman Leader [?]
- Snakeman Navigator [?]
Manufacturing: -
- Heavy Weapons Platforms : Laser Tanks (6) : (repair both tanks) 2 (both damaged) [10 to produce, 3 to repair, it was 7 to upgrade rocket launcher]
- HWP Repair Kit [6] : 1 (Hadrian) - These repair kits can only be used on HWPs and require about twice the resources of a medikit to construct.
- Powered Armor 15 [15] : (1 for Jane) 3 (Soheil, Vasily, Allen) ; laser packs can be left behind, when worn; 2 Russian-model suits retrieved (inferior to ours though); Powered Armor cannot be made into stealth suits
considerations:
- get new estimates of projects from Grace & Dr. White on all new projects added to the lists...
- upgrade 2 laser tanks to 2 plasma tanks after repairing them
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| « Last Edit: on: Sep 17, 2008, 5:16AM » |
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Smart Alec
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Vasily scratches his head, and composes a swift message.
FROM:
TO: DR. KIMBERLY WAGNER, X-COM RESEARCH LEAD
FROM: V. KASPRJAK
CC: MEMBERS, ALPHA TEAM
RE: Ethereal |
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His finger pauses for a few moments, possibly wondering what to call Dr. Wagner. 'Kimberly' seems too familiar; 'Dr. Wagner' too formal. 'Kim' too frivolous. Eventually, he settles on...
Doctor
Mention of change to security when interogatng 'ethereal'. How long this take? Work begin now, or do research staff need time before they start?
Vasily |
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***
OOC: Didn't we capture a floater medic during that warehouse spacecraft mission? I distinctly remember stunning one.
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| « Last Edit: on: Sep 17, 2008, 1:01PM » |
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vanya mia
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Munching delicately on some kind of sandwich, and simultaneously reading her xPhone, Catalina saunters into the recreation room. "Oooo lots and lots of things to think about here, boys and girls," she said between mouthfuls. "New goodies, and there's the powers of that new alien too, bless his little cotton socks."
"Plasma for base defense, no way we can ignore that. We just kicked them in the nadgers and took their toys off them. I think we can expect their daddy to come calling soon." She chewed thoughtfully for a moment or two. "Didn't we have three powered armour suits? If someone else needs one then we need to build it, but I've only seen two of the team wearing them." She shrugged. "I'm not certain, but I think that's our priorities for the engineers right now.
"Research now, that's a bit trickier." Another couple of mouthfuls went down while Catalina thought. "I think it's a case of 'We've started so we'll finish' on the snakies, but I really want to look at those motion sensors, and there's that great big plasma gun." Chewing the last mouthful she tapped the screen as she read Vas's email. "Hmm, and I really, really want to find out how that bugger did what he did to me, plus how we stop it."
"I suppose it depends on whether they'd give us that one back to play with," Catalina said then sucked her fingers clean delicately and licked her lips while looking at the Russian, then grinned wickedly. "Exactly how much would you like that gun?"
((OOC - I'm not much for asking LB how much man/woman-power stuff needs. Rather takes the fun out of the guess work. 
Plus, are knowledge skills always secondary for research, LB? Don't want to mess up any project that might be important by applying skills too inappropriately.))
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| « Last Edit: on: Sep 17, 2008, 3:32PM » |
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Lazybones
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on Sep 17, 2008, 3:13 AM, Jenniza wrote:considerations:
- get new estimates of projects from Grace & Dr. White on all new projects added to the lists...
- upgrade 2 laser tanks to 2 plasma tanks after repairing them |
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The two interrogations are almost finished, so you can either cut the teams in half or have a fresh assignment for them to take up as soon as they finish.
Doctor Sandesh reports that he can upgrade the tanks to Plasma with a full research team in a week. He says he has improved the armor as well.
Doctor
Mention of change to security when interogatng 'ethereal'. How long this take? Work begin now, or do research staff need time before they start?
Vasily |
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Doctor Wagner responds that the team is ready to begin work now.
| OOC: Didn't we capture a floater medic during that warehouse spacecraft mission? I distinctly remember stunning one. |
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Added to the list.
I only remember two powered armors being built, but someone can go back and check the forum if they want.
| (OOC - I'm not much for asking LB how much man/woman-power stuff needs. Rather takes the fun out of the guess work. |
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As long as everyone understands that the estimates are just that, not hard numbers (since I still roll each week for research/manufacturing output). I only toss the virtual dice for big projects; for basic things like medikits and the like I don't bother to roll.
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| « Last Edit: on: Sep 17, 2008, 1:44PM » |
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vanya mia
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((OOC - Don't ask me re-powered armour, I picked up on three from Jen's 'scorecard'. Could that be incorrect?))
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Smart Alec
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"Ok," Vasily nods, reading his xmail and scribbling down some notes on a bit of paper. "Not get me wrong, I think heavy plasma great idea. But I just get hang of minigun, so," he adds, seemingly oblivious to any innuendo.
((OOC: Yes, Vasily can finally shoot straight with that minigun, and could potentially use the heavy plasma weapons, having gained Exotic Weapons Proficiency.))
"Agree that they going to be pissed at us. So, base defence plasma great idea. 20 people on that. Tanks... eh, maybe not able to fit in tank repair and armour. Out of two, I think armour best right now, can do big upgrade for tanks next. So, other folks on getting new armour suit made."
((Manufacturing suggestion: Plasma Cannon (20), Powered Armour (16). Yes, there are 3 suits of powered armour floating around; Soheil's, Vasily's, and James's, though James hasn't got the proficiency for it and only took it because neither Jane or Hadrian wanted it at that time.))
"We get lab to research the hell out of that alien big-brain bastard. I get feeling he the key to a lot of things. After that... finish up whatever. New motion sensor mentioned? Maybe that."
((Research suggestion: Ethereal (20), Snakeman Leader (10), Snakeman Navigator (6); and when the Snakeman team are done, get them working on the Improved Motion Sensor.))
"That do? I think that do."
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| « Last Edit: on: Sep 17, 2008, 3:14PM » |
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Jenniza
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ooc: I agree with SA, plus I'd like to suggest these for tentative timeline
Research
Round One 1
Ethereal Leader 20
Snakeman Leader 10
Snakeman Navigator 6
Round Two
Improved Motion Sensor (first, like SA suggests)
Plasma Defense
Floater Medic [5?}
Round Three
Heavy Plasma [20]
Vibroblade [10]
Floater Engineer [5?]
Round Four
Regenerative Serum 1 [20]
Alien Medicine 2 [10]
Snakeman Engineer [5]
Round Five
Small Launcher (Stunner) [10]
Alien BioGrenade (Elerium-115) [10]
Sectoid Engineer [5]
-----------
I also agree with SA on the Manufacturing priorities.
tidbits about the "scorecard"... I just copy the file from week to week and make changes as necessary. It tends to reflect more current inventory rather than "what was produced"... because of prototypes getting upgraded, units getting used up and destroyed, etc. It also lists who has them (to the best of my abilities to track them), relevant ooc stats, and other relevant stats.
Note Sectoid Leader was successively interviewed a long time ago and left off of LB's list and I've quietly been ignoring the glitch by including it in my scorecard. There might be oher glitches too. Some mentioned some not.
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| « Last Edit: on: Sep 17, 2008, 4:34PM » |
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Smart Alec
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on Sep 17, 2008, 4:29 PM, Jenniza wrote:Research
Round One 1
Ethereal Leader 20
Snakeman Leader 10
Snakeman Navigator 6
Round Two
Improved Motion Sensor (first, like SA suggests)
Plasma Defense
Floater Medic [5?}
Round Three
Heavy Plasma [20]
Vibroblade [10]
Floater Engineer [5?] |
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OOC: That's kind of sort of what I had in mind too, only we don't need to research Plasma Defence, apparently - only build it. And I'm hoping that the Snakeman Interrogation Team(tm) can at least get the Improved Motion Sensor work well underway this week, 'cos with a full team and a half hopefully those interrogations won't take 'em long! 
So hopefully, assuming there's no more added to the list next week (big assumption!) we can look at the heavy plasma and the vibroblade next week.
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| « Last Edit: on: Sep 17, 2008, 5:00PM » |
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vanya mia
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"As long as you don't have an overpowering urge to hold one of those guns, it's fine by me. Myself, I couldn't even pick it up." Catalina shook her head with an amused look. "Knew you'd see my point on the base defense, but yours on the interrogations is a good one. Moving the researchers on to the motion sensor when the work on them gets less intensive makes sense. I'll probably go down and have a peek at the thing again myself," the grin broadened, "so I might put in a request for a couple of specific ones to be released if they can."
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| « Last Edit: on: Sep 17, 2008, 6:51PM » |
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Jenniza
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Jane worked on the Powered Armor to see if there was any way to make the weight as streamlined as possible... every ounce/gram to a minimum. That is, to make sure that every part that was in there was absolutely necessary for the functioning of the suit... spare parts could be kept back at X-COM for repairs. Just enough redundancy systems to keep the systems from shutting down in normal combat situations.
ooc Any chance of being able to reduce the weight by even a few pounds would be appreciated as long as it doesn't effect combat worthiness.... otherwise, I'll just settle for full weight, I guess.
craft mech +14
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Lazybones
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I'll post again tomorrow with some preliminary information from the alien interrogations, and another briefing from HQ. But today, everyone is glued to the television monitor, as news arrives of the latest alien response to X-COM's activities...
* * * * *
Most of the alien ships that have been encountered thus far have had a certain sleek elegance to them. With their Elerium-powered antigravity drives, the ships do not need wings or bulky thrust units. For all their size, they are almost graceful.
Not this one.
The monstrosity that descends from orbit is a bulging, awkward hulk. It forms a bright streak over the Atlantic Ocean as it enters the atmosphere, visible in the early morning sky from Cuba to South Carolina.
After steadying its course somewhat, it heads for New York City.
The Americans have not been idle in their preparations. Two Firestorm-Bs with conventional engines and forty F-35As armed with pulse-laser cannons greet the alien ship. It punches through them almost effortlessly. Thirty-four fighters are lost.
Twenty nuclear-tipped surface-to-air missiles rise to greet the battleship as it crosses New Jersey. The ship is equipped with some sort of repulsor array, knocking the missiles out of the air while they are still dozens of kilometers distant. Only two of the missiles get close enough to detonate. The atomic blasts cause the ship to wobble, but aren't enough to stop it.
The battleship's main cannon makes short work of the human city. Four fusion blasts bracket Manhattan Island, leaving the core of the city a blazing wreckage, and the surrounding boroughs a smoldering wasteland.
The ship pulls away from the devastation it created, and starts east, flying a high arc over the Atlantic. On its way to Europe, it is hit by a swarm of SLBMs from two British missile submarines, again with little effect. More interceptors engage as the ship crosses over Iceland, including two X-COM fighters. Firestorm-1 is not with them, as its innards are lying strewn across the hangar bay at HQX as its new plasma cannon is being installed. In any case, it is doubtful that its presence would have made a difference. All fighters are lost without noticeable damage to the alien battleship.
The ship fires a pair of fusion bolts that vaporize 90% of London. It slides east, giving France a comfortable berth before coming down over the Low Countries and into Germany. German land-based laser batteries blast the ship as it flies over the border, but again there is no apparent effect. The ship ignores the defenses, firing a last blast of its main cannon at the city of Frankfurt. The fusion bolt explodes directly over Saint Bartholomeus's Cathedral, and destroys most of the city core.
The alien ship turns ponderously, and begins to ascend once more into orbit.
Initial casualty estimates are in the millions.
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vanya mia
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Before the news broke Catalina had spent much of her time working on the motion sensor, and flirting lightly with whatever male scientists happened to stray her way. Sandesh, of course, gave her the widest of berths. It was a cheerful young woman who sat down with a cup of coffee with the others to relax.
"Oh my God." Watching with horror she winced at the sight of New York, but then the news switched to London. Catalina's her mouth dropped open, all the colour drained from her face and her skin went utterly pale. After a few moments of stunned silence she mouthed two words faintly. "Mom. Dad."
Drawing a ragged breath she stood up unsteadily. Pulling her xPhone out of her pocket she wandered away from the others slightly. Pushing buttons, tryng to dial one number after another, pacing out small circles in the centre of the room, with increasing frustration. Eventually she threw the xPhone against the nearest wall and ran out of the room.
((Knowledge Tech +9 on the sensor again. Hopefully the worst that can happen is she'll lose the one she gained them.  ))
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| « Last Edit: on: Sep 20, 2008, 9:56AM » |
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