Sathra

Chapter 8: New and same. Ah, March. Order some hares in so I may see them fight for my amusement. Sir, I don't think you'll get them to fight in the base. Besides, the base is still infested with weasels. The troops are armed all the time, and they're still popping out of nooks and crannies. That's because I've been releasing a new crate each week. It'll help with combat training. That's kind of cruel sir. They don't bite that hard Waffles. That's not what I mean- That's...much larger than the others. And 13 isn't a lucky number either. Prepare the caskets. Sir? You just know someone is going to die. Oh yes. Doctor? *over radio* Commander? Prepare the Link. The link? What's that? None of your business! Launch! Sir, I'd really like to kn- And I said NO! Battle Music! ----------------Mission Start------------------- Kirmu: Bigger ship. Good thing I brought a big laser. Damned heavy though. Hunterhavoc: Well, duh. Lucy: Enough of that, we got contacts moving in! Assoonasitis: These targeters make this too easy. Wish the surgery didn't hurt so much. Wait, surgery? Classified, Mr Waffles Dammit sir! What have yo- I SAID CLASSIFIED! Jean-Luc II: Colonel, shouldn't the breachers get the new armour? Animal: I pulled rank. Bite my shiny metal ass. Michael: Aaah! Michael: My precious organs! Animal: I'm coming rook. Medikit'll fix you right up. You've been ported right? Michael: *groan* Yessir. Required for combat missions. You did do something to them! Fine. Yes. I'll tell you later, you nancy. Michael: Pain makes aiming hard. Kirmu: Hello Beastie. Meet Mr Yellow. *Crakoom* Kirmu: Whoah, woozy. Shooting these really drains you. Animal: All patched up. Move out! Michael: Yessi- Animal: Dammit. *Skrak!* Lucy: You missed! Lucy: And now you die. Hunterhavoc: Looks like he came from there. Alley-oop! Hunterhavoc is obscenely strong. He can throw HE Packs like mere Grenades. That's why he now carries 4. *BOOM!* Hunterhavoc: He shoots! He scores! Heavy Mob advance! Lucy: Spotted the UFO. Damn that's big. Marty: No sniping for you! Assonasitis: Nice shot. Now do it without the targeter. Marty: Shuddup. Through the window, into the face, from a screen and a half away Marty: Scouting guidelines say this is how its done. Hunterhavoc: Pretty much. I'll do the top floor of this one. Kirmu: Tank's moving into the ship. Get 'em boy! Kirmu: Hahaha! Oh crap! Angry pet-owner! Kirmu: My dog is armoured fool! *crack* Missed the screen. Animal: Having fun I see. There's another door this side. Dix II: Ah, I missed killing stuff. Kirmu: No tank! Down boy! *crakrakrak* Kirmu: Eww, its all mushy. Hunterhavoc: Stop playing with the corpses Kirmu. Couple turns later. Killed another 2 Reapers in the ship. Animal: Havoc, with me. We're going up. Hunterhavoc: Whoah, I can smell the colours. Animal: Huh, doesn't work when you're wearing power amour. Lucy: We're coming up to reinforce! Dix, Kirmu, watch the lift. Dix II: Aww, just a look. Bottom of the ship is clear. Ain't that right Kirmu? Dix II: Kirmu? Lucy: I told you to stay down there! Dix II: I'm so sorry Kirmu! Seriously, that's how my thinking went. Ship was mostly clear, sent Dix II up to help the sweep, and Kirmu gets shot in the back. Last alien opened the door to the lift in the upper floor after Kirmu died and was promptly ventilated by Lucy. Animal: Hey, one of these unconscious ones has a really fancy cape. Might be an officer Captured a leader! Not sure how. Dix II: This does not make me feel better. ----------------Back at base------------ See! Told you. Yes, you did. You don't have to be so happy about it. Yes I do. Now, Victory Music! Now sir, about what you've been doing to the troopers... Just a moment. Yes Sweety? Researcher Sweety: We've completed the research That's not much better than the Avalanches you know. Yes, but the new cannon allowed for an upgrade to the tanks. They're in production, and Martin is assisting Wonderful! More laser fun! Thank you Sweety Sir! Could we continue? Hmm, oh yes. Well, the alien cybernetics- Oh, come on! We'll continue this later. Send the troops! ----In the barracks---- Rookie: Man, why don't they use anesthetic in the surgery? ASSUMING DIRECT CONTROL Rookie: AAARGH! UPLOADING RookieKirmu II: Aaaah! My spine! Oh man, that hurt so bad. Heh, at least I'm the right gender. Now to punch Dix in the face. ---------------Wrap up----------------- Ah, mysteries. Anyways, sorry Kirmu. Bad call there, forgot that floaters could...well...float. It popped down from the Terror unit cradle and well... Other than that, we got new tanks! Also: I appear to have modded Heavy Plasmas at some point (Its been over a year since I last played EU to heavy plasma). This one was never fired. All I know so far is that they're heavier (much heavier) than vanilla. I'll have to research them to find out if there's any other changes (The UFOpeadia pulls info from the game files). They sure ain't the godly weapons they were in vanilla, that's for sure.

Chapter 7: I blame the Pilot. Sathra: We've got contingencies for this. Aircraft, retract to storage bunkers! Non-combat personnel, to raid bunkers! Troops! Gear up! We're under attack! Sathra: Waffles, with me. To the operation centre. Waffles: Yes sir. Sathra: Oh, and start the psy-ops protocol. Waffles: ....yes sir. *Click* -----------------Mission Start-------------- Animal: *listens* Oh good. I was hoping for new, strange, yet calming nightmares. Sathra: Captain, are the NC personnel secure? Animal: Yes sir. Sathra: Fight well. Animal: Coffin Stuffers! Keep 'em out or its weasels for the lot of ya! Everyone: Sir yes sir! Animal: Rookies, Kirmu. With me, we'll be moving up behind Lucy's mob. Marty: Pinkies sir! Jean-Luc II: Got him! Ah, and this is when the classic Superhuman Base Defense glitch showed up. The floater JL killed disappeared completely when it died. It wasn't armed either. Too many aliens, not enough item slots . Its about 80 for each side, with a few reserved for other stuff. The first 8 or so aliens disappeared (dead 4x units count as 4 items I think.) Animal: You up for this Aki? Akinori: ___. Yes sir. Animal: What was that noise? Akinori: Doc _ad to replace my larynx. Mainly because _e replaced my lungs too. Vocal cords don't work with a filter for lungs it seems. Aliens don't si__ either apparently. Animal: Er...right. Move up then. >.> 4 turns of moving and no aliens later. Tatyana: There's nothi-Wait, Contact! I didn't get around to killing these for a couple turns. They couldn't do anything either, and disappeared when they died. Another one appeared in the lift the turn after I killed one too. Yeah, Superhuman base defense is fun. Marty: They're charging! Marren: They're coming through the hangars! Open fire! Gotta love exploiting the doors. Alien grenade went off as well, did nothing. Lucy: Ready weapons! John, pop the doors! FIRE! Jean-Luc II: No prisoners! Kirmu: RAARGH! Assoonasitis: They're going crazy! The aliens started killing eachother with 'zerker fire around now. Hilarious John: Clear! Animal: They're breaking! Move up! Push them BACK! Sarah: More aliens! Animal: No mercy! I think that was the Commander. Took alot of killing. Capturing wasn't possible, since the only things i had to use were AC, HC, laser weapons and lots of grenades (that I forgot to use). No medikits either. Animal: They're running! Tank! Git 'em! Tank: Woof! Animal: Waffles: I'm going crazy, that was actually funny. Sathra: It is, isn't it. Real dog brain too! Waffles: Animal: Tank's stopped...er...growling. I think that's all of 'em. Waffles: Where did all the bodies go? Dix II: Guys? Hello? Damn radio must broken. Whoops. Sorry Dix, upper floor and all that. Hunterhavoc didn't make it to the battle either, he spawned really far away. -------------Mission Over------------- Sathra: Well done troopers! Victory Music! *Huge explosion* Waffles: What the hell was that! Sathra: *Listens to comm-bead* Alien ship self destructed. The Enforcers managed to complete their mission though. Waffles: The who? Sathra: The Enforcers. CoFN's guys. Waffles: The recovery team? What did they do?! Sathra: Uploaded a 'crash-down' signal hack to the nav computers. As far as the aliens know, the ship was shot down and failed to attack the base. The computers seems to have objected to the hacking, but we got a completion signal before it blew. Waffles: Will it work? Sathra: No idea, we'll have to wait and see. -------------Wrap-up-------------- Yep, my attempt to explain why the aliens forget where the base is. The clean-up guys would know how to do it since they're the ones that take the ships apart. They'd probably notice that all the shot-down ships broadcast the same signal. Anyways, wasn't a bad mission. No casualties (or wounded, thankfully. No medikits ><). Having the aliens all start panicking halfway through was a big part of it, not to mention how about a third of them seemed to spawn without weapons. No Blaster Launchers either, strangely enough. Promotions! New month! POWER ARMOUR! Laser Cannon(Tank) research has started, and it seems that next its plasma weapons. I'll probably do it rifle, beam, pistol, hPlas. Storywise though, it'll be beam, pistol, rifle, hPlas. That makes marginally more sense, with the beam being an attempt at copying UFO armament (bigger guns being easier to take apart, like the engines). HWD after that.

Chapter 6: Same old, same old Waffles: Okay, recordings ready to start. Sathra: Very well. Waffles: Must you? Sathra: I must. ---------------Mission Overview---------------- Contact-8 Waffles: We've classed this UFO as a Large Scout. They seem to be some kind of standard fleet unit, or maybe a heavy fighter. Either way, the aliens use alot of them. Animal: Go on rook, off you go. Marty: But, you're wearing armour. Shouldn't you go? Animal: I'm the captain, go! Lucy: Tank's spotted Pinkies. Waffles: This is also when we first noticed the aliens using squad formations, rather than wandering sentries and strongpoints. Animal: That pinkie took alot of killing. Kirmu: No kidding. 5 laser rifle shots and an AC-HE bolt before it died. Jean-Luc II: They're spreading out. Animal: Don't let them! Keep up the fire! Hunterhavoc: Incoming! Assoonasitis: You okay Havoc? Hunterhavoc: Yeah, didn't do anything. What was that? Lucy: They're moving in more troops! Dix II: Whoah, faar to close tankie! Dropped a smoke to keep the tank from getting shot. Alien moved into the smoke to see where we went, and the tank shot it with reaction fire. Always terrifying with a rocket tank. Neil: Havoc noo! Hunterhavoc: I'm fine, didn't even scratch the armour. Contact-9 Waffles: Smallest contact we'd seen. Though it was a missile, but it moved wrong, so we sent up an interceptor. Pilot: Er, command. Target destroyed. Like, completely. Still no idea what it was doing. Contact-10 Waffles: Pilot chased this one from Afghanistan before he could shoot it down. Then the whole base shook. The High Commander locked the pilot in the containment room for the rest of the day for that. We could hear him screaming over the music and alien howling. Hunterhavoc: These heavy lasers don't mess around! Who's for roast pinkie! Marren: They really don't want us getting in there. Waffles: We're calling this a Medium Scout. The aliens seem to use this for mostly research missions. Sathra: We lost someone? Waffles: Oh, yes. Squaddie Neil was killed in an ambush. Squaddie Marren killed his attacker, but his body was caught in the explosion. Empty casket funeral. Contact-11 Kirmu: We're going where?! Marty: I think setting off explosives in ice is a bad idea. Animal: Hey, orders is orders. Bombs away! Jean-Luc II: We're surrounded! Waffles: Again, new tactics shown by the aliens. It didn't help them though. Animal: Hey, whaddya know. It worked! Contact! Animal: Hmm sounds like I got 2. Animal managed to kill another sectoid by accident. Well done! Michael: Looks clear here sir! Dix II: No, now its clear. Waffles: We started construction the 'The Coil' in Antarctica after this mission. We'd filled a storeroom with Elerium by this point, and The Coil will be our storage/manufacturing centre in the future Sathra: Why are you telling me this? I told you to do that. Waffles: For the log sir. Sathra: Ah. Carry on. Waffles: We finished research in the UFO engines at this point. Waffles: Learning that they produced power and anti-gravity gave the researchers an idea. Sathra: Ah yes. I ordered research to start immediately. Anything with 'Power' in its name must be good! Contact-12 Kirmu: Oh, come on! The Arctic again! Animal: Didn't work for you guys last time. Marren: Boom! Hahaha! Dix II: Ugh, you got bugeye in my hair! ------------------------ Sathra: Ah yes, the troops are getting good at this. Waffles: Indeed sir, even the rook- *loud rumble* Sathra: If that pilot shot down a UFO on us again-! Waffles: No sir, he's still in therapy. We're under attack. Shit. ----------------Wrap-Up--------------- Oooh, cliffhanger! Yeah, these missions weren't that interesting. Bunch of sectoid and floater scouts, and only took a single casualty the whole time. Neil died in some farmhouse to a shot through the window. Marren eventually killed his killer, but blew his body up at the same time. Oh well. Captured some more aliens too. Dunno about you, but I think the game might be hinting that we should research Hyperwave soon. Personally, I'd go for Plasma Beams, since we'll be getting larger UFO's soon.

February Status Update Sathra: So...how are the troops shaping up Waffles. Waffles: I've got the dossiers right here sir. Animal Lucy Fer Assoonasitis Jean-Luc II Marty Marillo Dix II Hunterhavoc Kirmu Marren Nidth Waffles: As you can see, they've been improving quite well. The armour has been well received, especially by Sergeant Hunterhavoc. Sathra: Oh yes, he would be. Anyways, the new base? Waffles: Entry lift has been finished, and we've started on the rest. Why'd you name it that? Sathra: Dragon's nest was taken. Brothel I think. Anyways, did the scientists finish looking at that shiny stuff? Waffles: They....well, they won't shut up about it frankly. Sathra: Oh, why's that? Waffles: If I understand their babbling correctly, this 'Elerium' has incredible possibilites. Also, they blew up part of Lab 2. Sathra: Did any of them die? Waffles: No sir, they're all fine. Sathra: Damn. Waffles: Riiight. Back on topic, what's incredible was that they were using an electron microscope to look at it at the time. They found bits of the 'scope in the the living quarters. A tiny sliver did that. Sathra: So....its an explosive? Waffles: Its a fuel of some kind. They found it in the ammunition of the alien weapons, the engines of the UFO's, those orb things the aliens keep bringing with them, even in some of the cybernetics in their bodies. Sathra: So...what can we do with it? Waffles: They're not sure yet. The scientist are looking at the engines now, to see how the aliens utilise it without blowing it up. Sathra: Why not the weapons or cybernetics? Waffles: Too intricate apparently. The engines are much larger and easier to study in detail. Sathra: Well, as long as they don't blow up the base. Is that all? Waffles: Yes sir. Sathra: Alright. Now, the battle reports? Waffles: Sir? You were there. You were keeping the soldiers updated. Sathra: Well, I want to hear them again. Waffles: Er...ok sir. I'll get the reports. Sathra: Don't worry about that, we'll watch the drone recordings. --------------------------- Missions up next. They're all scouts or one kind or another, so they'll all be in one post. A warm welcome to MickeyC and his trooper Marty Marillo. He's gotten a few kills, and also hasn't died, which is pretty good. As you can see, I really like HE Packs. And yet, there still aren't enough. Kitted out everyone above Squaddie with pistols too, just for the look (Animal's never used his). Also, the HL's are pretty cool, very accurate. They're taking some getting used to, since they work best from a set-up position. I'll get used to them soon enough. Oh, and I think I'll start yet another base for storage purposes. We're at 300 elerium now. Been getting mostly landed UFO's, and only a couple of the splashdowns' engines blew. Edit: Make that 400 Elerium.

Another short update. New month, so we get a review of how stuff's going: The CoFN is quite happy. Some more base expansion (the Elerium is really piling up). Just one contact so far. Floater large scout. Dix II and Marren were still in medical for this one. Highlights: Assoonasitis keeping up the sniping. Danielle finally died, but that farmhouse will with be her. Kirmu took out her killer. (Damn floaters. Anything else would have fallen and been a much easier target) Yet another Navigator. Jean-Luc II takes Danielle's place as Sergeant, although he won't be breaching quite as much. On the research side of things: We got armour! And Mega-Deathrays! So....what will we research now? -Plasma tech. -continue with laser tech (cannon and the tank next) -Research that Navigator for HWD. -Small Launcher -Alien Grenade -Motion Scanner -Power Armour (which leads to hovertanks and new ships) -Or something ridiculous like Mind probes or that Reaper. Oh, might be about time to consider build another base too. 4 mil is enough to get a good start. Here's the graph: Awaiting replies. Remember, what tech to research and opinions on starting a new base (and location and name if so).

Chapter 5: For the sake of lucre! Sathra: What's wrong with the alarm? Its very distracting. Waffles: Its...I have no idea. Sathra: Aren't you meant to know this stuff? Waffles: Er...TO THE OPERATIONS ROOM! Sathra: Oh, alright then. But quickly, that crate of weasels won't reseal itself. Waffles: *mutters* Just ignore it, just ignore it, just ignore it. --------------Operations Room-------------- Waffles: Oh....crap. Sathra: What? Weasels?! Waffles: What? No! Its a Terror strike! Sathra: They're....shooting dirt at us? Waffles: That's a stretch and you know it. (realised that joke doesn't work so well without an Aussie accent) Sathra: Yeah....So, what is it? Waffles: Aliens are attacking a town, killing civilians. We have to stop them. Sathra: *petulant* Do we haave to? I hated that movie. Waffles: . ...Er, our funding will be cut back if we don't? Sathra: WE MUST SAVE THOSE CIVILIANS! Waffles: Very good sir. Right away. Sathra: Battle Music! Waffles: Dragonforce? Sathra: I shall need all my powers for this battle. MONEY IS AT STAKE! --------------------Mission Start---------------------- Waffles: Medikits were loaded up on the 'Ranger, with a full complement of Laser Rifles. Sathra: Deathrays. Waffles: Sorry, full complement of Deathrays. Also, they've landed. Animal: Go on rook. This ain't a stealth mission. Neil: Okay sir. *Boom* Animal: Tank! AET mode! GO! Neil: Are you okay guy? Civilian: Haflabbadda ubblda sqeeee!? (damn, missed him!) Animal: Tank's got a target! Lucy: Bugeyes? Animal: Nah, Pinkies. Get 'im rook! Neil: I...I killed it! Jean-Luc II: Settle down rookie, or it'll be your only kill. Henri: They not so tough. Moving into building. Hey, what's tha- Dix II: So much for him. Danielle: Cold. True though. Lucy: Shut up, natterholes! They're moving in! Lucy: Wow. That's alotta steam. Danielle: My turn! Whoah, no kidding. This'n popped like a jacket potato. (The one Lucy killed, Neil actually tried to kill first. 4 bursts, every single shot missed. What a fail.) Kirmu: Moving up to firing position! Ah, *sand*, under fire! (lucky escape, it hit the chair he was crouching behind) - Waffles: What the heck? - Sathra: The censor bored me, I switched it out for one that swaps in random words. - Waffles: How!? - Sathra: I'm the High Commander, I have all the codes. - Waffles: Then why...2 days wasted....*sigh* Kirmu: Take this! Jean-Luc II: You missed him with HE ammo? Good thing I have your back. (Yeah, I swapped out Kirmu and Hunterhavoc's ammo out for HE, thought it was going to be Sectoids) Jean-Luc II: Whoops, spoke too soon. Now you're safe. (Jean-Luc II killed both of the Floaters on the left side in one turn.) Kirmu:....thanks. Lucy: Neil! Make sure they're dead before you call it! Neil: Ah *soup*, DIE! (Took him a couple bursts, damn rookies) Animal: What the hell is that! Hunterhavoc: Target locked. Let's try these boomers. Hunterhavoc: That was easy. Lucy: Tank's under fire! Animal: It's spotted one in the house! Lucy: It's throwing something! Lucy: Nevermind. Stupid pinkie. (ahahaha. First alien grenade attack and it vapes itself!) Lucy: There's the one that shot the tank! Firing! Lucy: And another! Its a strongpoint! Hunterhavoc: No kidding. Firing! Animal: Tank's spotted a new one! Assoonasitis: Time to shine. Dix II: So that sniper badge isn't just for show eh? Sathra: Kirmu, fire into that gas station, we need a cover story. Kirmu: Sir? Sathra: Don't question me! I have weasels! And you have to sleep! Kirmu:....FIRING! - Waffles: Sir! I know the troops are...indiscriminate...but this! - Sathra: I checked the Charter just now. We're under standing orders to do this. CoFN's idea. Easier to say it's insurgents if there's some major damage. - Waffles: *reads* I'm not sure what's more shocking. That you're right, or that you read the Charter? - Sathra: WEASEL! *gunfire* Animal: Move up! Clear 'em out! Hunterhavoc: Pinkie spotted! Firing! Dix II: So, we can wreck what we want? Sweet! Dix II: Aaaah! Misfire! Misfire! Animal: Oh, god, your face! - Waffles: Wait, what's he doing with the medikit. Is that a por- - Sathra: Not now Waffles! Kirmu: There is no way that's safe. Kirmu: Hey, its up again! Kirmu: Explosives, don't fail me now! (he barely caught it in the blast of the last bolt. He really needs firing xp lol) Jean-Luc II: Smoke shifted, new target! Firing! Assoonasitis: Hey, I'm the sniper! Jean-Luc II: So am I. Well, was. Danielle: Clear over here Cap! Animal: Moving up! Animal: No its not! Danielle: Holy hell! Danielle: You try seeing anything in all this smoke! Neil: Hey, this one's cowering. Animal: Zap it! I mean stun! *Bzzzzt* Neil: Got it! Looks like a pilot... Animal: How the *fuschia* do you know that? Neil: Its got some kind of map thing on its arm. That and it's still got the pilot rig on its....head. area. Animal: Hmm, well, we'll leave it up to the eggheads. Grab it. Clear? Hunterhavoc: Clear here! Lucy: Clear here too! Danielle: Nothing but rubble and fire here. By the way, these bowsers are really jetting flames now, we...should....RUN! Animal: BACK ON THE SHIP! MOVE IT, MOVE IT, MOVE IT! ----------Back at base---------- Sathra: Waffles: About the medikits sir, I'm sure I saw the Captain plug it int- Sathra: Enough Waffles! Its above your clearance! I have weasels to hunt! -----------------Mission Wrap-up----------------- Nice and neat sums this up (ignore the smoking rubble). I kicked myself when Henri got killed. I should have known better, that house module is a major spawn area (case in point, the 'Strongpoint' was the same module) Floaters was a bit of a let-down, since its been a while since I've had to deal with Psi-attacks since you can get MC labs and screened troops before you start fighting Tasoths in TFTD. They're the main psi-race, and Aquatoids (the other major psi-race) don't do missions much past the first month, and the first terror mission is Gillmen 95% of the time. Got a live Reaper and Floater Navigator from this mission. Navigator was funny, after all those aliens in the Strongpoint got killed, a big "Floater Navigator has Panicked!" message popped up, and the tank spotted it running. Neil spent the next 5 turns or so chasing it down in a scene you could put Yakkity Sax to. Kills: Lucy, Jean-Luc II - 3 Hunterhavoc - 2 Kirmu, Assoonasitis, Danielle, Neil - 1 I have no idea why that suiciding Floater got credited to us. Lack of anywhere else to put it maybe? No promotions, besides Neil to Squaddie. Marren Nidth rejoins the team in 3 days. Akinori is still out for another 27 days or so. Thanks to the medikit, Dix II is only going to be in Medical for 1 day, but she ain't gonna be winning any beauty pagents.

Yeah, took a while to figure out what happened. Boom, boom boom. Aaargh! Me: What the hell was that? *scroll over* How the heck? *dead body in puddle of flames* He hasn't gained any stat increases since the first mission either, I checked. Since all stat gains are based on shooting or blowing up aliens (or panicking for bravery), the only stat-roll he's gotten was for injuring that floater in the first mission. Check it: Very similar aren't they. Problem is, Dix II has only injured 2 aliens (floater in CH4, sectoid in CH2), while Kirmu has been hitting aliens since the first mission (well, except CH3). He should be noticeably better, especially in STR. EDIT: Medikits it is, with armour then HL. Okie dokie, Just a quick update. Highlights: Large Radar and new Lab complete. Started building another Living Quarters to go with the Workshop started in the last update. Medikits research completed and production started Another Large Scout recovery. Engine blew, so no Elerium for us. Danielle picked one off through a window as she came off the Skyranger. Jean-Luc II got 2 kills with some long range burst fire. Smoking rubble is from Dix II opening up on a hedge and finding JL II's second victim. Animal also assisted by shredding walls with laser fire to clear fire paths. Animal watching over his charges. (HE packs are my favourite weapon ) Toshio not having a good day. He managed to kill 2 of them, then.... HunterHavoc managed to kill 2 sectoids in one burst. (the two on the upper left, one's already dead, the other is dying) Christel moved in and avenged Toshio's death, neatly coring his killer. Too bad there were 2 more hidden in the smoke. The above is footage of her last moments, moving out to clear a shot for the rest of the Breacher team. Danielle avenged her, and Hunterhavoc took out the last one. Not bad, Large Scouts with blown engine rooms are pretty much deathtraps. Especially with high reaction foes like sectoids. NPC troops don't really count of course . Kills: Jean-Luc II and Danielle - 2 Hunterhavoc - 3 Toshio and Christel got 2 and 1 respectively, but died the same turn, the expendable failures. Captured our first Small Launcher too. And last of all, its the 29th of January so... Its probably going to be Sectoids, so this'll be hilarious. (DF style hilarious)

Chapter 4: BAAAARRRN! Waffles: Are you sure its safe to use alien tech in our soldiers? Sathra: Absolutely no idea. We'll find out soon enough though. Looking forward to it. Waffles: Er...that's a....way....to look at it. Sathra: I don't see why you have to be so....so...sassy about things. Waffles: Sassy? Don't you mean-*alarms go off* Sathra: Launch ships! To the operations room! (two missions in 1 day. fun times) Sathra: *in the med lab* Marren: What the hell is that? -------------Mission Start-------------- Danielle: Hot LZ! Hunterhavoc: No its not! Danielle: Force of habit. *Boom!* Animal: Move out Coffin Stuffers! They don't fill themselves! - Waffles: What?! Sir, did you- - Sathra: They thought it up themselves. Shows enthusiasm in the best Bushido style. - Waffles: *mutters* Its contagious. Lucy: Goddamn it Pilot! Pilot: Shutup! Animal: Alien spotted! Hunterhavoc: What is it? Animal: Spare parts. Toshio: In my sights. Toshio: Love these laser pistols. *enormous explosion* Lucy: Here we go again. Hunterhavoc: Found another one! Firing! Dix II: Its still up! I'll get it! Kirmu: It got up again! I'll finish it! With FIRE! (Funky fire fix has been turned off. Have fun Kirmu) Lucy: To the ship! Hunterhavoc: Here Assoon, take my pistol. I'm in a good spot. Assoonasitis: Er...thanks? Danielle: In you go rook. I'll cover you. Toshio: Hate. Toshio: Clear. Moving up. Bastards. Assoonasitis: Not yet *crack*. Now it is. (one woke up again, Assoon finished it off. Forgot to take a pic) Jean-Luc II: BAAARRRN! Animal: Good idea! *explosion* Animal: Hah! Found ya! (it fired at the tank) Christel: I got it! (Animal fired 2 bursts before her. Both bursts missed. By centimetres) Dix II: Clear over here. No aliens. Animal: You sure? Hunterhavoc: Pretty sure. Lucy: Move in! Clear em out! Danielle: Fine. Goddam-ALIEN! Assoonasitis: Got your back Dani. Lucy: All clear here. Cap? Animal: Looks like it. Hard to see over the fire, rubble and smoke though, but I assume so. Jean-Luc II: Kinda light on crew, weren't they? - Sathra: --------------Back at base------------ *The follow occurs over 8 days of boredom, interspersed with periods of terror* Sathra: All that shiny crystal stuff takes up alot of room. (200 Elerium so far ) Waffles: Agreed. We'll expand the base. (also added a workshop later on) Waffles: Xenoprison's up and running sir. Sathra: With the additions I ordered? Waffles: Yes sir. Speakers ready to "entertain" the prisoners. Sathra: Excellent. Waffles: Engineers have finished. They're all in the showers now. Thank God. Sathra: Eh, that's not news. They're not Death-rays. Waffles: About that.... Sathra: Hot damn! Begin production at once! Waffles: The scientists have ideas for an even bigger version too. Sathra: Hmm. Waffles: Or they could start on some of the alien tech and other projects. Sathra: Let me think about this, and get back to you. ---------------------Wrap-up------------------ Nice neat mission. Half the map on fire or smoking rubble. Burnt down to the bedrock (that's why the barn floor is red for Christel's kill). Kill counts: Toshio,Assoonasitis - 2 Christel, Kirmu - 1 Only promotions were Toshio and Christel to Squaddie. New research! So what'll it be? -Plasma weapons (I'll start with pistols) -Continue with laser tech (remember, the HL is like an MG now, with its own code. You can actually *hose* an area with it.Link. About halfway down the page.) -Medikit -Motion Scanner -Armour -Alien Grenade -Mind Probe

Chapter 3: Karma? *5 quiet days later* Waffles: Sir? Siiir! Where are you!? Sathra: In the new storeroom Waffles. I'm painting! Waffles: Really? What are you-OH GOD WHAT'S THAT STENCH!? Sathra: I'm painting an anti-alien mural on the wall! With alien! Waffles: Oh god, I have to get out of here! *runs off retching* *several noisy minutes later* Sathra: I don't see why you had to make such a mess. Those poor janitors. Waffles: *hoarsely* How could you stand the smell!? It was like death and shit and turpentine and strawberries and lilacs and...and...poop. Sathra: Yeah, it smelled pretty bad when I was mixing it. That's why I added the lilacs. Waffles: You don't deal with boredom well sir, do you? Sathra: Not really. Seriously, where be the alien up at...to...with? Shizzle! Waffles: What? Never mind, that's why I came to find you. We detected one coming in over the north sea towards Germany. Interceptors are en-route. Sathra: Oh, off to the operations room then. Mind the vomit, some people can be so inconsiderate. Waffles: Uh, yes sir. I...agree. -------Operations Room--------- Sathra: So pilot, you there yet? Pilot: Target nearly in range sir. Any operational orders? Sathra: Charge, I guess? Pilot: Is that wise sir? Waffles: Pilot, the cockpit's music player starts as soon as you get into range, and doesn't turn off till your target is down. The High Commander selected the tracks. Pilot: ...Charge it is then. Sathra: Waffles, are you saying I have bad taste in music? Waffles: ...Yes. Yes I am sir. Sathra: Oh, very good then. Just wanted to be sure. (several minutes later) Pilot: *screaming* Target's down! Enough with the coconuts! Sathra: Send the troops. AND WHERE'S MY BOOMBOX! Waffles: It...it was accidentally...left on the jet's launchpad. Sathra: Damn. Have to use the base intercom then. Waffles: *whimpers* Sathra: So...new pistols loaded up? Waffles: Yes sir, what was available. We really need more engineers. Sathra: Need to get the new living quarters done first. Maybe a mural.... Waffles: NO! Sathra: Why not?! Waffles: Because...Oh look! They've landed! Sathra: Waffles: ----------------Mission Start---------------- Lucy: So, laser pistols eh? HunterHavoc: Looks weird. They aren't going to explode....right? Lucy: How would I know? We'll ask when we get back. - Waffles: They are safe, right? - Sathra: *shrugs* Kirmu: Aaah! My eyes! Plasma fire! Danielle: What? Its just the sun you troglodyte! Wait, alien! Akinori: Tank! Fire! Jean-Luc II: Did it get it? Danielle: Er....yes. Hot LZ! - Sathra: Ahahaha! (you can guess the result) Animal: Move out! Akinori: Kid in the distance! Firing! Animal: That's an alien Aki, and why did you fire if you thought it was a kid? Akinori: Alien, kid. Same diff. Lucy: Found the UFO. Looks fine. Dix II: At least we're not next to it this time. (lies, it was a field away. Damn pilot, though the door was on the far side thankfully) Lucy: Alright troopers, move u-*feces*! Lucy: Goddamn tank! What is wrong with this thing! - Waffles: Why did it do that? - Sathra: I changed the pathfinding. Now it makes it own way, as we all must in life. - Waffles: You're insane. - Sathra: My official record disagrees. I should know, I wrote it. Kirmu: Hey, hay bales! FIRING! Dix II: Huh? Well, when in Rome. Animal: You spooked one! Nice work! Akinori: *aargh* Akinori: How dare you! Animal: Open fire! *massed gunfire* Jean-Luc II: Bang! Got it! Danielle: I see another one! C'mon laser! Hunterhavoc: Heh, his head fell off. Its like a cartoon. Lucy: Right. Moving up! At least all this smoke is being helpful, even though I really wish the tank would stop firing at stuff randomly! Animal: And we'll flank from here. Marren: Sniper! Marren: Aaargh! My leg! Animal: Find it! (Plasma shot destroys door next to Animal) Animal: That was too close. It's in the field! Animal: Got it. Lucy: Did you hear a door? Danielle: I'll check. Yep, door. Give it a kick and-Whoah! Danielle: Scared the *feces* outta me! *huge explosion* Lucy: What the *fornication* is wrong with that tank! - Sathra: The soul of wit. - Waffles: *mutters* I'm working with a madman. - Sathra: Akinori's not that bad. Terrible experiences in childcare I understand. - Waffles: Huh? Oh...um....Ok? I'll be more...open-minded? - Sathra: See that you do. Akinori: Dizzy. Pistol....heavy. (threw it to Jean-Luc II actually) Lucy: Clear the channel psycho! Pistols out, its cramped in here. Assoonasitis: Don't have one sir, weren't enough to go around. Lucy: Well, rifle then. Havoc, go with him. Dani, with me, we'll take this side. Assonasitis: Another door here, *excrement*! (missed with taking the pics, but Assoonasitis dropped a sectoid as it walked out, then another one walked in and out from the same room.) Hunterhavoc: Not getting away from me! Other door Danielle: So who goes? Lucy: You, its what you got your stripes for. Danielle: I hate you all. Danielle: So much. Lucy: Got the other one! (And everything in the vicinity. Thankfully the console didn't explode, they're worth a bit) Assoonasitis: Got another one over here! Hunterhavoc: He's still up! Covering! Assoonasitis: I shot it in the face! Hunterhavoc: Aim for the crotch, I do. Akinori: *gasp* Now *urinate* on the bodies! Danielle: Aren't you dead yet Aki!? Argh! Plasma! Lucy: You're fine. Same thing happened to me first mission. Lucy: Wotcher, bugeyes. Animal: That's it people! Marren! Got the triage kit? Marren: Why the hell did you order me to get it?! My leg's got a hole in it! Animal: Well, you needed it, and everyone else was sweeping. Marren: Bastard. Dix II: That farmer ain't going to be happy. Lucy: Seriously, does anyone know what's wrong with the tank? It only stopped when it ran out of ammunition. Most of the farm's on fire! Kirmu: Pretty though. - Sathra: - Waffles: *shudders* -----------Back on base-------- Sathra: I'll see what they brought back. *loud gunfire* ????: Stop shooting! *Waffles runs out of the op center* Waffles: Doctor Martin? Commander, why are you firing at the floor? Sathra: Youthful exuberance? Doc Martin: What is wrong with you?! Waffles: I ask that every day. Sathra: I give a different answer every time too! Doc Martin: What? Waffles: Its true, he does. He's started screaming it at me to wake me up in the morning. Doc Martin:....Derangement aside, I've got the medical reports for Squaddies Fujimoto and Nidth. Sathra: Who? Waffles: *aside* Akinori and Marren. Sir. Sathra: Oh. What's the report? Doc Martin: Marren's femur was bisected, vapourised looks like, and there's massive tissue damage in the area. The only reason he didn't bleed to death was because all the flesh for an inch around the wound was...melted. He'll be laid up for 3 weeks or so. Waffles: 3 weeks? You're kidding. Doc Martin: Not at all. We don't have any medical oversight observers, and with the stuff we ripped out from the Floaters... Sathra: Bored, what about Aki? Doc Martin: Squaddie Fujimoto? He's in a bad way. Most of his torso was melted and his heart had to be replaced. Month and a half. Waffles: Wait, what? Heart? Doc Martin: It fell on the floor. We had a spare though. These alien cybernetics are really user-friendly. Waffles: That's...you....but....you can't do that! Doc Martin: No one said I couldn't. Sathra: That's true. I approve this course of action retroactively. Doc Martin: Thank-you sir. If you'll excuse me, I've got some electro-muscle to implant. *walks off whistling* Waffles:..... Sathra: Selling time! -----------Mission Wrap-up----------- Whoohoo! Explosions! 3/4 of the map was smoking craters and/or on fire. I find it amusing that the two 'monster' characters were the ones who got injured. Not to mention that Danielle went through the 'Lucy Fer Experience' as well, with Lucy standing right next to her. Obviously not a coincidence. Kills this mission: Danielle - 3. Still won't die. Lucy Fer and Hunterhavoc- 2 Akinori, Animal, Assoonasitis, Jean-Luc II -1 And the tank killed another. No promotions this time.

Good to know! Might as well continue copying stuff over.

Looks pretty good to me. So its something halfway between a hose and grenade launcher if I'm reading it right. Some of the blast shapes for close range fire (mostly the short-range ones) look a bit strange, but not excessively so. Maybe have the long 'line shots' have low damage tiles around the end point? Or at least fire spawned around the impact point. It might look a bit strange otherwise.

Like the crash-site symbol? And somehow, having said symbol also having a Chryssalid smile is just far too funny.

Sounds good. But I'd still like to be able to do everything with the mouse as well. Sometimes you just want to be lazy .

Sounds good. It'll be good to see a new iteration of the concept. Might help folks make up their mind about it all.

Might as well put it up to a vote! I'll have to wait till the image limit is increased to continue anyways. So, various random people who care, what shall I do? 1. Continue and leave most of the LP in the darkness of oblivion? 2. Start again with a different game? Different game will probably be TFTD or Apoc. Edit: Hup, nevermind. I'll just keep going.

Ahaha! Shadow of the Horned Rat. I never got to play that one. The sequel, yes, but not the original. Hmm, top 5. 1. TFTD 2. Red Alert 3. SOTS 4. Dungeon Keeper 2 5. Mount and Blade: Warband

I really want an Andron plushie for some reason. They're just so cute. Could always do what EU did. Have some monstrous alien mascot that has nothing to do with the game whatsoever. That fly-octopus-tentaculat-thing.

Nah, its alright. The Chrissie is a good replacement

So, you're suggesting: Left-click on a target to go into aim mode. Scroll wheel moves up and down aim levels and burst mode above max aim. Left-click again to fire. Right click at any time during aim mode cancels. What about aiming at non-enemy targets. Such as your own troops, NPC allies, walls, random bits of map. Would that be manual selection of the weapon to get into aim mode (and a hotkey for quick access)?

Caesan or Andron plushies? A smiling Sebillian? Could have one of those trio things. Sebillian or Andron in front, holding one of the huge alien weapons across the body, and standing behind it, slightly to the left and right respectively, a soldier in jackal armour with a laser rifle aiming to the left and Caesan with a pistol looking to the right. How's that?

Both have good sides and bad sides. The current system does has soldier selection via the scroll wheel, with aim level via right clicking. This has the obvious problem concerning cancelling shots, which can be a bit confusing. I think there was some talking about having it context sensitive though.

By my understanding, no. Not quite like that. I think it'll be more that there will always be one main screen (geoscape, research, personnel, etc) and that screen will have all the major information. But projecting partially onto that screen will be compressed versions or links to other screens which can be focussed on to expand (by moving the viewpoint), or clicked on to change screen. So for the Geoscape, most of the screen will be the map, and across the bottom will be various information things. Like a message panel with the various reports updating on it: UFO events, manufacture progress reports, research reports, trooper/aircraft updates. Clicking on the reports would probably either focus on the event location or switch to the appropriate screen.

Part 4

Part 3

Part 2