XCOM: UFO Defence

Chapter 7

XCOM Headquarters

The Swiss Alps

January 10th, 2012

The captured spacecraft lay across the hanger in thousands upon thousands of separate pieces and components. Scientists were dis-assembling the craft, hoping to learn how it worked, and what it was made of.

Dr. Peter Hapsbourg super-vised the scientists, making notes on where certain parts went, and on what they appeared to be. The technology in this craft, he noted, was far beyond what human beings were capable of.

"Dr. Hapsbourg," announced the PA system, "please report to the Director's office immediately."

"Dr. Zhiang, your in charge while I meet with the Director. Please make sure no one touches the reactor of the craft, we still do not know what powers it, I am afraid that if we tamper with it, we could cause a catastrophic accident."

Before Dr. Zhiang could acknowledge the order, Peter was already making his way towards the Director's Office. He knocked on the door before entering, hoping the Director was in a good mood.

"Ah, there you are. I assume everything is going well with the UFO that we captured?" asked the Director. Dr. Hapsbourg fidgeted with his notepad as he formulate a response.

"The spacecraft, or UFO, that we captured appears to be a scout craft, based on the size of the ship and it's armaments. The craft we captured carried four occupants, but we believe that it can carry at least five." Dr. Hapsbourg pulled up schematics and photographs on the screen in the Director's office.

"As you can see, in what is the front of the ship, two seats face a display screen, with two consoles next to it. This is how they control their ship, and how they keep in communication with other vessels."

"And what about that device in the centre of the ship? What is it?" asked the Director.

"The device in the centre of the ship appears to be the reactor that powers it. So far though, we've been...hesitant to analyze it any further than we already have. Our tests have shown that whatever element it is that powers the ship, we haven't discovered it yet."

"What do you require Dr? More funds? More scientists? We need to know everything we can about this enemy." said the Director quite sternly.

"Manpower and money aren't the issue here. I need access to a particle accelerator, preferably the one at CERN. That way we can analyze the element."

"Very well," acknowledged the Director. "A team of scientists here will accompany a sample of the element to CERN. We will give them a cover to ensure that no civilians find out what we're studying. And they will have a personal security team to ensure there are no leaks. Is that satisfactory?" he asked.

"Yes, that will work. Now, about the bodies that we recovered." The Doctor cleared his throat. "The bodies recovered on the motion belong to an unknown species of alien. From what we can tell from the autopsies we performed, they originated in an aquatic environment, based on their respiratory system and webbed digits. But we also noticed something peculiar."

The Doctor pulled up some new images on the screen.

"Through DNA analysis, we discovered that all four bodies share the same genetic coding and information. In other words, they're all clones of the same original individual."

"Good God..." whispered the Director, as he weighed the information. "What the hell are we facing here?"

"That is a good question," responded the Doctor. "The brains in this species are quite advanced, suggesting that they may possess certain extra-sensory abilities that we lack. Yet based on the fact they are cloned, I do not think that they are our only enemy."

"You mean this threat, we're not just facing one alien, but many?" asked the Director.

"Correct. This must be a sub-servant species, genetically engineered and then cloned to serve a higher master. I know not what we may face in the future, but this species is quite dangerous."

"So what do you suggest we do to counter them? You saw the helmet-cam footage from the mission yourself. Their weaponry is much more advanced than ours. Human ballistic weaponry just isn't going to cut it."

"Your right, it won't" sighed the Doctor. "While our team is at CERN, I would suggest that you get them to recruit scientists working their on LASER technology. From what I've heard from fellow colleagues, they may be close to making a portable LASER that will work in weaponized form."

"Very well," acknowledged the Director. "You have my authorization to recruit more scientists. Get me new weaponry, Doctor. And find out what powers that ship."

Dr. Hapsbourg nodded, then quickly left, not over-staying his welcome. As he entered the hangar that held the UFO, the scientists all turned towards him.

"Gentleman," announced the Doctor, "we have a lot of tasks ahead of us. Let's get to work."