The road was empty. Only puddles filled the dents in the asphalt. Small streams were created as the downpour followed down the subtle curvature of the road, running off into the nearby grass. Henry tilted his umbrella out of his field of view and looked up at the sky. A quick flash of light diverted his escorting troops' attention along with his. They all looked up and dismissed it as it fleeted. A loud crackle accompanied the flash seconds later. Another flash of thunder went off and unleashed its roar upon the Commander's ears.
"Quite the thunderstorm, Commander," Bradford commented.
Henry turned around to talk to his Executive Officer.
"If only they had picked a better day to arrive," he complained.
He did not mind the rain or the thunder; he had always been fascinated and calmed by it. He did, though, dislike having his slacks drenched. His umbrella did not protect his legs. After long minutes of waiting, they had properly gotten wet.
"Remind me just who these guys are," Bradford inquired about the contacts.
"They've got quite the background. Many of them were in the SEALs. They've worked for the CIA too. Last deployed in Afghanistan before they were called back. I believe they were part of an operation that used to be codenamed Omega."
Bradford raised his eyebrows in realisation.
"Hence, the name — Omega Squad," he pointed out.
"Yes. I would be careful around them, though. I still don't know what the whole deal is."
"Shouldn't they work with Phoenix Squad? I imagine their experience would be a boon to our efforts."
"Remember, Bradford, we can't trust them yet. In fact, I don't know if we can trust them at all. Phoenix Squad is different; I selected them. Omega Squad, though, is an unsolicited 'gift'. I'd rather not both of them get mixed up. Not to mention, I need to test Phoenix Squad's loyalty, now that things are getting real."
"You don't need to say it again, Commander. The past month has been a real shit show. The aliens, Exalt, and now, the UN. I still can't grasp it became an independent body."
Henry had taken the brunt of all the chaos. He knew the load all too well.
"The Security Council granted the Secretary-General the power to act without having to call a meeting," Henry explained. "He decided to temporarily suspend the General Assembly and Security Council. Essentially, he has a lot of power now."
He let out an exhale. His mind had been occupied on the United Nations for a while. From what he could tell, it would continue to be that way with the Secretary-General running amok. He had to maintain his watch over him, now that his decisions were impacting the war effort.
"To be honest, that Coalition of his isn't doing much, Commander."
"There isn't much for them to do, anyways. We're on the defensive," he clarified. "Though, I heard the UN is planning an offensive on the aliens."
The Executive Officer looked up at the cloud-ridden sky and chuckled in doubt. He brought his umbrella over his face as a few drops of rain came near his eyes.
"How the hell do they plan to that? Bring the war to space?" he questioned. "Last I checked, we ain't capable of that. If we did we'd have done it long ago, no? Unless, those moneybags in the space race want to help."
"Actually, you're not that far off," Henry chuckled.
A soldier disrupted the conversation through Henry's earpiece.
"Sir, they're here," she informed.
The rest of the squad gathered around their Commander and loaded their weapons. Henry focused on the horizon surrounded by the skyline of the forest. The fog created by the countless raindrops made it harder to see, but he could make out two flashing lights in the distance. Soon, a silhouette was distinguishable. It slowly grew bigger as the object moved closer.
"Quite the long drive," Bradford commented, staring at the vehicle coming closer.
"Yeah. All right, troops, prepare for the worst," the Commander ordered.
Henry's escorts spread out to secure a perimeter around him. Once the vehicle would arrive, they would ensure no third parties would enter uninvited. Only then, could XCOM accommodate Omega Squad.
Henry had many questions — too many to discuss out in the rain. Once his guests would be "integrated" into XCOM's ranks, he had all day to chat. The Council did not say much about them. They were but a gift given by the United States. Of course, there were strings attached, but they seemed more like shoddy excuses. Now that he looked back upon his brief meeting with Ambassador Burton, he should never have accepted to take in Omega Squad, as useful as they would be to his operations. Though, it was too late to have second-guesses. The van was only meters away.
As the vehicle slowed down from accelerating the long empty road, the soldiers closed in. It reached a slow cruising speed, then the brakes rendered it to a halt. The vehicle entered the circle formed by the Commander's escorts as they aimed their rifles at anything uninvited. A couple of the soldiers were ordered on standby in case Omega Squad themselves would be a threat. Henry instructed them to keep their weapons down to courtly greet his guests, but their fingers were only a millimetre away from the trigger. Even the Commander and his XO were armed with pistols and had a vest under their uniforms.
The seven rough men exited the van from the back and looked around, stunned at the soldiers guarding the area. The bulkiest one of the bunch came up to greet the Commander. He was definitely older than. He was not aged enough to have wrinkles or grey hair. The skin around his eyes sagged, though. He had a prickly, freshly-shaven beard hiding a series of small scars. It was, no doubt, a testament to all his rough experiences.
The aftermath of the Cold War was not exactly the best time for an experienced member of the CIA. The Middle East was a battleground that brought out the hardiest of men and women. Most in XCOM were involved in it at a relatively young age. Henry had gotten a taste of it too but was brought back quickly compared to the rest of Canada's forces. Afterwards, he has only heard tales.
"Quite the protective detail you've got, Commander Avant!" the supposed leader conceded, impressed. "XCOM does not disappoint. Quite the armour too!"
"Welcome, Omega Squad. Once the area is secure, we'll head into the base," the Commander informed. "Any contacts?"
His soldiers scanned the area definitively before answering.
"Negative, Commander," they replied into his earpiece.
"All right. Secure the van."
Omega Squad raised an eyebrow at the order. A fireteam of soldiers entered the van from the back. They insured the vehicle respected the conditions laid down by the Commander. It packed bullet-resistant plating and glass. The storage compartment, filled with seats and the baggage of the clients, only had a dim light above as there were no windows. The crew compartment had to be completely closed so that Omega Squad could not observe the route towards XCOM HQ and blow its cover. With one objective done, the soldiers proceeded to the next.
The XCOM soldiers pulled out their new comrades' luggage onto the road. Some of them were backpacks while others were heavy-duty containers and equipment cases. Omega Squad seemed slightly on edge by the rough handling of their belongings.
"Sir, they've got quite the luggage," a soldier reported.
"Omega Squad, surrender your bags for a bit," Henry ordered, pointing at the backpacks carried by a few of the members.
The group seemed to harbour some resistance to the order but complied as their leader followed orders. They put their bags at the side of the van with the others.
"Forgive me, Omega Squad," the Commander requested. "Search their luggage and give them a pat-down."
The soldiers went towards the seven members of the unit. The men spread out their arms, and the soldiers stowed their guns and patted them from top to bottom. Nothing except for a few watches. The troops examined the inconspicuous devices in case they packed concealed functions. They proceeded to search the baggage. There were mostly hygiene products — mostly personal items that were not provided by XCOM to its staff and soldiers. Henry's troops were mostly searching for smart electronics; most of them were not allowed in XCOM.
They progressed to the equipment cases. Opening them up, the soldiers found some armour and multiple guns with accessories. Omega Squad came kitted with their own gear. They brought a few Sig Sauer P226's with suppressors. Some crates were full of carbon black HK416's with all their attachments. The others consisted of a few gadgets like restraints, pepper spray and night vision goggles.
"Sir, they've got weapons and gear," the squad leader reported.
Henry walked towards the array of containers at the side of the van. He looked down at all the weapons, gadgets and armour. He did not recall telling them to bring their own gear or was informed that they would.
"Well, you guys came with your own stuff. If you are more comfortable using all of these than our equipment," he said, pointing at all the opened containers, "I won't stop you."
"As much as we are curious about your equipment, we prefer something more traditional," the leader of the bunch replied.
"So be it, but you will need a few extra accessories. We'll provide you with a headset connected to our comms. If you encounter aliens, don't be surprised if we strap you into Jackal Armour."
"We won't exactly be fighting aliens, Commander Avant, but it is good to know you're willing to share."
"I wouldn't be so confident about that, Omega Squad. This is an alien invasion, after all."
Henry looked down at all the crates and bags.
"All right, clean up. And, check the driver!" he ordered.
The XCOM troops came to the driver of the van. He gave his card indicating that he was a member of XCOM's external staff. He was from the Clean-Up Teams who hauled back artefacts by land. He was authorised to use the restricted roads leading to XCOM and was bound by a contract to not leak anything. With his identity confirmed, the driver was permitted to make the long return journey. Omega Squad repacked and carried their equipment with some help from XCOM's soldiers. They began to walk towards the base.
A squad of soldiers went between the guests, and the Commander and Executive Officer while the others completed the encirclement from behind. To Omega Squad, it was as if they were being detained and escorted away by the military. After analysing the hints, they could tell the Commander was being cautious. They did not say anything and complied. They reached the cave entrance after a short walk.
The officers in Mission Control opened the doors to HQ and the group took the diagonal elevator. They made their way to the barracks, using the main elevator. Henry wanted his new arrivals to settle in for a few minutes before he got down to business. He had already made it clear that they were at his mercy in XCOM, but he refrained from making it seem hostile by throwing them into the holding cells and interrogating them. Instead, he opted for a more formal setting in the Situation Room.
The soldiers spread around the hallway as they neared the cabin assigned to the new additions. Fellow combat operatives on a stroll stared in curiosity. Some of their comrades were in full bullet-resistant gear, guarding the Commander and Central Officer Bradford, accompanied by a group of unknown men. They diverted their gaze after they met with Omega Squad's stares.
The Commander pressed the button to open the sliding doors. He stepped inside the room containing a sink, a series of bunk beds and two adjacent bathrooms.
"This will be your quarters, Omega Squad. You have fifteen minutes to unpack your personal belongings. Your equipment will be sent to the armoury. When you're done, step outside and the troops will escort you to the Situation Room."
A squad of XCOM's soldiers grabbed all the crates and hauled them to the armoury. While they were there, they could take off their armour and resume their day. The others would wait outside Omega Squad's cabin and bring them where the Commander wanted them to be.
With the clock ticking, Bradford and Henry went to Mission Control. They would need to report the acquisition of the attachments to their corps. Afterwards, came the questioning.
The soldiers marched into the Situation Room. Omega Squad followed between them. Henry rose from his chair at the large table and walked towards the entrance. He looked at his troops escorting his guests.
"All of you, wait outside."
They nodded and filed out of the facility. The Commander looked to his new arrivals standing near the entrance.
"Commander Avant, I can tell you're exercising extreme caution around us," the leader said. "Why the distrust?"
"You understand the circumstances behind your arrival?"
"Yes, we do."
"Then, you can guess why."
"If you wish to discuss, it should be between you and me. My men have nothing to do with this. They simply follow orders."
The Commander looked at the other silent men. They seemed younger than their leader, but they looked just as experienced and conditioned for the work. He'd have to review their backgrounds thoroughly once he had the time.
"Very well. I haven't asked your name yet," he said, looking back at the squad leader.
"Scott. Scott Harrison. I am the senior in our group," Harrison replied as he saluted.
Henry responded to the gesture. He went back to addressing Harrison's men.
"The rest of you will go to the infirmary. After your mandatory medical examinations are done, you'll be given a personal device. It's like a phone. On it, you'll have access to all of XCOM's services and features — including a map. Use it to get familiar. Maybe hit the showers or grab a bite at the cafeteria."
The six members of Omega Squad nodded.
"You're dismissed."
They looked to their leader who authorised them to exit. They walked out as soon as permission was given. The Commander turned to Harrison.
"Now, Harrison, what is your task here at XCOM?"
"We're here to fight Exalt. The United States wants to ensure your collaboration in ending their operations. We were sent here by the goodwill of our country. XCOM is supposed to fight aliens, but you've increasingly been fighting humans. Let's just say that, from the perspective of the international community, you've been giving in to these distractions. It is not exactly your role. Not to mention, you'd need some covert operatives to take down all those smugglers. Your XCOM soldiers, as skilled as they are, cannot properly fight them. They can only kill the smugglers once they surface. They still lurk in the tunnels — tunnels which we can help you uncover."
XCOM has covert operatives, Henry corrected in his mind. Though, the mistake was a good sign. Omega Squad and the U.S. did not seem to be aware of Phoenix Squad. He had to make sure they never did. Henry opened his mouth and adopted a frown to fake his surprise
"I'm sorry, covert operatives?" he challenged as he crossed his arms.
"Yes. I've been debriefed on the politics, Commander Avant. I believe the XCOM Reclamation Bureau is only allowed to manage the recovery of claimed alien artefacts. Their job is no longer to take down smugglers or any unauthorised activity from the nations. That is a shame since you were the most competent in investigating the appearance of suddenly organised bands of well-armed smugglers. Were they not your forces that discovered Exalt?"
"So, your country has sent me a group of CIA operatives to secretly support me in continuing my operation?"
"Smugglers have become the jurisdiction of the country they operate in. It is no longer your job, but the president has predicted that you would not let go so easily. As shameful as it is, a lot of the smugglers affiliated with Exalt seem to be operating in my country. So, we want to aid you in your efforts."
"That's all?" Henry questioned.
"Yes, Commander Avant."
Henry doubted it. The United States was a target more than an ally. Exalt had access to some serious gear. Sure, it was not surprising for a band of veterans and ordinary American folk to get their hands on a few assault rifles, but to take on groups of aliens before the military or even XCOM could respond was unexpected. However, the United States had been arming its citizens lately so they could fend off alien raids. It was definitely a factor contributing to the accessibility of sophisticated weaponry.
He remembered Exalt parading as militia at some point. Perhaps, that was the key. They pretended to be militiamen and formed a network that could easily respond to threats. They would hide amongst the civilians, draw their guns, kill all the aliens, ship the materials to the black market and distribute the profits. They took organised crime to another level, being insanely organised. They were vastly superior to any criminal organisation in existence prior.
The other hypothesis was that Exalt was somehow connected to a sovereign state. Exalt could be a paramilitary organisation tasked with stealing alien artefacts and shipping them back to their country. It would explain their level of organisation and their access to sophisticated equipment. Most of the operatives were initially American but started diversifying as time went by. Their weaponry came from multiple countries too. It could be a tactic to not make it too obvious as to whom they belonged to. During their birth, XCOM was the only party allowed to retrieve alien artefacts. Perhaps, the United States used Exalt to snatch artefacts from him. Now that the rules have changed, the situation with Exalt should too. It would be an obvious clue if Exalt's presence suddenly dwindled. That was assuming that Exalt was American, of course. If it was another nation, it would have different implications, but the goal was similar. Nevertheless, there was something that Henry absolutely needed to know.
"Just how much will the U.S. be involved in this?"
"What do you mean?" Harrison questioned.
"I'll phrase it this way, are you working for XCOM or the United States? Will you be using the CIA's network to operate? Are you obligated to relay everything you find about Exalt to the CIA?"
"I'm not here as a member of the CIA, Commander Avant. We are Omega Squad. That being said, if we can take advantage of the CIA's intelligence not already shared with XCOM, it would aid us immensely. Not just the intel but the connections."
"So, you're working for us, but you want to make use of your connections in the CIA?"
"Precisely."
Henry paused in thought.
"I'm willing to allow that, but all of your communications will have to go through us. That means that if you want to talk to anyone in your network, you'll have to do it through this room. After all, all forms of communications outside of this base passes through our network."
The last Henry wanted was for Omega Squad to communicate with the CIA. For all he knew, Omega Squad could be spies — spies which he agreed to harbour. XCOM strictly monitored all communications to the outside anyways. Its soldiers could talk to their families, but they had to use the booths. The call had to travel through a secure network. Everything that would be said would also be reviewed in case of any information leaks. XCOM was, after all, a highly restricted research facility as much as it was an elite military organisation.
All research produced in XCOM was much more valuable than any artefacts stored in its vaults. The Inner Assembly of the Council had made a plan to gradually leak less important bits of research. If Omega Squad saw just how much XOCM was hiding and reported it back, it would cause outrage. Not to mention, some of Vahlen's research had been conducted inhumanely. As Henry stood in the Situation Room, Vahlen was no doubt observing the Sectoids in captivity. If Omega Squad came upon that, XCOM would be heavily criticised. Thankfully, the Inner Assembly had his back, but he doubted they could alleviate all the pressure from the nations.
Omega Squad had access to basic information about the aliens — any information deemed useful to soldiers deployed in the field. The information available to any staff member through their issued devices was limited; only the scientists had access to all of the research. That worked in the Commander's favour. More importantly, he would have to inform Vahlen and Shen about Omega Squad. With them informed, it made monitoring the new arrivals easier.
"I don't see a problem with that, Commander," Harrison accepted, "but I hope that our transmissions are safe within XCOM. We wouldn't want any information leaks within the CIA because of you."
"I assure you, only a select cast of my staff are responsible for monitoring traffic. They're senior officers supervised by my XO."
"Is there anything else for us to discuss?"
"Nothing more, for now," Henry replied.
There were things he needed to know, but he'd have to find the answers indirectly. The most important of them all being how Omega Squad would operate. He'd have to observe them in action.
"Go to the infirmary, Harrison," he continued. "You'll have to undergo some medical exams and you'll be issued a device. I'll call you sometime this week for a debriefing on Exalt. For now, get familiar with your new surroundings. You're dismissed."
Harrison saluted and walked out of the Situation Room. Henry observed as he exited and looked around, possibly retracing his steps to his quarters. That was one burden partially lifted off of the Commander's shoulders. Now, he had to see the other group that had arrived. Phoenix Squad would be easier for him to handle. He could trust them more than Omega Squad. He just needed to make sure they were ready for the worst. So far, they've obeyed his orders without question or hesitation. Though, their previous tasks had been more investigative than anything else. Exalt's reality was bound to change. How it changed would determine the Commander's response. His response would be enacted by Phoenix Squad.
Bradford walked into the room as Henry went to set up the seats. The Commander turned to meet him.
"You're done with those guys?" Bradford asked.
"Not quite, but for now, yes. I'll have to test them for a bit until I can trust them," Henry responded. "Even if I did, I'd have to look into a few things before I'm unwary."
"I see. So, you want me with our next meeting with Phoenix Squad?"
Henry walked up to Bradford after setting up the other side of the exceedingly large table.
"You're involved in this just as I am. You're my XO. I do warn you, things might get messy."
"I'm ready for anything, Commander," Bradford declared.
"I hope so."
A silence ensued as Henry continued to set up the room. He pulled out a USB key containing all the information he had access to. He had kept it in his quarters where nobody could stumble upon it. He had also prepared a copy of all the files and data for Bradford. He handed him his memory stick as he retrieved it from his pocket.
"What's this?" the Executive Officer asked.
"Everything you need to know. Unfortunately for you, you can't just dump this one on Irel," the Commander jabbed.
"Irel's my assistant. I don't dump things on her," Bradford corrected, faking his offence.
Henry let out a short laugh.
"In all seriousness, this matter can only be discussed between you, Phoenix Squad and me — absolutely nobody else."
"Got it."
Just as the two were about to take their seats and wait, a group of men entered the Situation Room. They saluted as soon as they noticed the Commander.
"We're here, Commander," Agent Dawson said.
"At ease. Have a seat," Henry replied, gesturing at all the empty chairs around the unnecessarily large table. "Ah! This is Executive Officer John Bradford," he continued, gesturing to his second in command. "You'll be taking orders from him when I'm not available. Also, welcome to XCOM HQ!"
"Thank you, Commander," Phoenix Squad replied and picked their chairs.
Bradford picked his seat for the meeting and Henry went to the control panel of the large display. He deactivated the live feed of the 2D world map and inserted his flash drive. He glanced at the button to "lock" the Situation Room. It would ensure that nobody could turn up and listen in. He pressed the button and entered his credentials. The small light above the entrance to the facility shifted to red in the corner of his field of view. With the preparations done, Henry looked at Phoenix Squad. Everyone was present — Tyrin Dawson, Kamron Snider, Julian Wilkinson, Kavan Gunn, and their analyst, Matt Graham.
"Let's start with recent events," the Commander proposed. "A few minutes ago, a group of former CIA operatives arrived in XCOM. They go by the name of Omega Squad. It has something to do with their last role in Afghanistan."
"What should we note about them?" Dawson asked.
"Be wary of them. No matter what you do, they must not know who you are. Be careful whom you reveal yourselves to or else word of you guys will reach their ears. As far as I can tell, the United States is not aware of your existence. They sent Omega Squad to support us — supply us with covert operatives so we can keep fighting Exalt."
"But, XCOM has covert operatives — us," Snider remarked. "If I may ask, why should we be careful around them?"
"Because they could be spies, Agent Snider. The United States has been acting oddly ever since the incident in Atlanta. We also can make a few indirect links between Exalt and them. We don't have any evidence of direct ties, but we should continue to put the U.S. in the spotlight. As long as our suspicions are not clear, the United States could be a potential target. If it is, then Omega Squad could be involved."
"I understand that Exalt could be affiliated with the United States Government," Graham protested, "but I find it odd they would send CIA operatives to aid us in taking Exalt down. With the new measures in place, XCOM has no direct motive to take down smugglers. That means that Exalt can operate only fearing the local militaries. If Exalt is affiliated with the United States, the fact that XCOM is no longer in the picture should be a good thing. But, they want us to keep fighting them?"
"Maybe we shouldn't assume things," Dawson proposed. "What is an irrefutable fact is that Exalt had a hierarchy consisting of American conscripts and former American military personnel. Their recruiters have been parading as militia and the Army. They have a network of weapons suppliers that provide them with guns from all over the world. The U.S. may or may not be involved, but other people are capable of organising such operations. We should focus on finding such people instead of setting our sights on a specific target and pointing at everything that fits our narrative."
The room sat in silence. Henry had assumed that the United States was guilty. Sure, they were acting suspiciously, but the rules were simple; one is innocent until proven guilty. The United States would have to be innocent until proven otherwise.
"Even so, I still want you to remain hidden," the Commander restated. "Omega Squad is a potential threat and I'll need your help to deal with them."
"Deal with them?" Wilkinson asked.
"I don't have the specifics. Just be careful. But tell me, Agents, have you found anything new?"
Phoenix Squad looked down at the table.
"We haven't had much luck recently, Commander," Dawson informed. "There were still many smuggling operations, but we couldn't find traces of Exalt. We also had to compete against local forces which made it much harder."
"I'm afraid you'll be faced with more daunting tasks, from now on. Agent Dawson, you've been going by the rank of Inspector, disguising yourself occasionally as FBI or by pretending to be part of the XCOM Reclamation Bureau. Now, that's no longer possible. Solberg is aiding us while he still can investigate smuggler reports. It won't be for long, though. Until then, we'll be mostly alone. We could try striking a deal with a few nations, but I don't know what they will bargain. The only country that seems to support our fight against Exalt is the United States. You know how I feel about that and we'll see how such a relationship goes."
"We could try cooperating," Dawson proposed. "At least, see where they lead us. If the United States does have an agenda, the type of aid they give could hint to it."
"I've been thinking so too," Henry acknowledged, "but we'd be playing into their hands."
"We don't necessarily have to, Commander," Snider remarked. "At least, not anyone who's in this room."
Bradford understood the idea and decided to butt in.
"I don't know much about the situation, but I remember you saying that Omega Squad was sent to us as covert operatives, Commander. The United States doesn't know of Phoenix Squad's existence. I'm sure that, with any intel they'll provide, they would expect us to use Omega Squad to act on it."
"I see," Henry reacted as he rubbed his chin. "We'd still be playing into their hands, though. We'd just be sending in Omega Squad to take the hit instead of us. The question is how they want us to use Omega Squad and what do they gain from it?"
"If I may, Commander," Bradford interjected, "I agree with Agent Dawson proposal with cooperating. Right now, we need to know more about our enemy — Exalt, the United States and Omega Squad. We won't get anywhere if we don't make a move. I say we use Omega Squad to act on any intel given by the U.S., and then, we use Phoenix Squad to follow up. Omega Squad does all the hard lifting and Phoenix Squad does the meddling."
Henry nodded in agreement. It was a good idea. Omega Squad would do the superficial tasks while Phoenix Squad would seek to comprehend it behind the scenes and gather intel. Speaking of intel, Henry needed to gather all the findings and present them to Omega Squad. They were now XCOM operatives too. He would, of course, remove all information that suggested the existence of another squad of covert operatives.
"What have you found out about Exalt, Phoenix Squad?"
The squad looked at each other. They all landed on Dawson who nodded and stood up.
"Here's everything we know. Exalt is a well-armed group of operatives whose primary goal is smuggling alien artefacts. They seem to cooperate with local gangs and criminals to bolster their ranks — mainly the lower echelons. Above the smugglers and goons are the Exalt operatives. They seem to have military backgrounds and have started to hail from various countries. They also have access to weapons manufactured from all around the world.
"Regarding their operations, they seem to only be hoarding alien artefacts. We've stumbled across a few black markets and auctions, but we've never actually seen Exalt operatives sell anything. The only parties selling artefacts were lucky crooks and potentially illegal suppliers of artefacts, working for the newly emerged clandestine industry."
"What do you mean Exalt doesn't sell?" Henry asked.
"They don't sell. They buy," Snider added.
"So where do their artefacts go?" Henry" asked.
"That's the problem, Commander," Dawson continued. "We haven't managed to get many bearings on Exalt operatives or their haul. It's actually hard identifying them from smugglers. They can be distinguished by the possession of a card, though. Of course, we can't just look for cards by watching from a distance."
Dawson pulled out a secure container, unlocked it and poured out the half-dozen of cards onto the table.
"Exalt operations, though, are distinguishable from local crime syndicates or would-be smugglers by their level of organisation and armament, but the lines are getting blurrier as time progresses since they've been striking deals with lesser criminal groups. For the last month, we've been chasing non-Exalt-affiliated smugglers; it was a huge and shameful waste of time.
"In terms of recruitment methods, the lower echelons were promised money for their labour. Their superiors also pretend to be militias. The higher-ups, who are seasoned combatants, were recruited by anonymous messages followed by a visit from an Exalt recruiter pretending to be the military. Despite everything we know, we haven't had much success since Exalt is very good at hiding its tracks."
"That's why Vahlen couldn't get much from her interrogations either," Henry added. "What do you suggest we do?"
"We have two possible objectives," Dawson replied. "We can try and track down these recruiters; we've only been able to encounter one who killed himself via lethal injection."
Henry winced at the revelation.
"The second would be to find out where the alien artefacts are funnelled to," Dawson proposed. "That would mean tracking down the flux of illegal alien artefacts."
"And how do you plan on doing that, Phoenix Squad?" Henry inquired.
"If we can find any smugglers with alien artefacts, we may be able to stumble upon the black market. Eventually, we could be led to an auction or a trade deal with Exalt. When that happens, we follow the Exalt operatives to wherever they take all the bought artefacts to. The second option would be for us to infiltrate Exalt's ranks. We need to be recruited by Exalt. Then, we need to find a way to reach their centre of operations. That may be easier said than done since we don't know how the Exalt hierarchy works."
Henry crossed his arms in thought.
"I trust you can handle this matter yourselves?" he questioned.
"We have some ideas on where to start," Dawson replied.
"In that case, you'll need some gear. At least, carry some comms with you so we can extract you if your cover is blown. You could also use our satellites to track down any targets or set some pings so we know where you guys are. If you want us to raid a base, that's also a possibility."
"We fully intend to do that. We would like you to harbour our analyst, Cicada," Agent Dawson requested.
"Cicada? You mean Agent Graham?"
"It's my codename," Matt Graham replied.
"Very well. I'll be using you to keep in touch with the others when they'll be deployed. I also hope you'll relay anything noteworthy to me, Agent Graham."
"I will, Commander," the agent pledged.
Henry looked around the room for further queries.
"Bradford, you got anything to say?"
"No, Commander," the Executive Officer replied.
Henry looked at the members of Phoenix Squad as he pulled out the flash drive from the control panel.
"I trust everything is recorded on this USB key?" he asked as he showed it to his audience.
"Everything is there, Commander," Graham confirmed.
Henry stopped the display on the large screen and set the Situation Room back to presenting global activity. He'd have to thoroughly view everything Phoenix Squad presented to him. He trusted that Bradford would do the same. Phoenix Squad stood up from their seats as the meeting seemed to have ended. They stood near their chairs, waiting for the Commander to dismiss them.
Henry pressed the button to "unlock" the Situation Room. The red lights at the door readopted their blue hue. He stood up from his seat and fixed his uniform. He noticed Phoenix Squad waiting for orders.
"You're all dismissed. The meeting is over."
With that, they saluted and walked out as their Commander replied. Matt Graham decided to walk up to the Commander instead.
"Sir, do you mind if I could ask you something?"
"What is it, Agent?"
"I'd like to spend some time with XCOM's research body," he requested.
"To what means?" Henry inquired, perplexed by the demand.
"I have tons of experience using computers, Commander; I have worked in cybersecurity and cyberintelligence. If you want me to meddle with any technological system, I'm your guy. I won't be doing too much work while my comrades are out in the field. I thought that, maybe, I could try utilising my talents and knowledge with the aliens' technology."
Henry raised his eyebrows in astonishment.
"You want to apply your skills on alien computers?"
"I could be useful to your research teams. I understand that the aliens' technology is nothing similar to humans, but there may be common aspects. Perhaps, I could come in handy there."
Henry stared at his operative — his visage still displaying his surprise.
"I'll talk to Vahlen and Shen about it," he replied. "They could use your knowledge somehow. I'll trust them to make use of you. But whatever you do, don't lose track of our objectives. I like it you want to help our effort against the aliens, but you guys must take care of Exalt while we're busy. Never forget that your squad needs you!"
Agent Graham saluted in response.
"Understood, sir!"
"Is that all?"
"That's all I wanted to ask. Thank you."
"You're free to go."
Agent Graham walked out of the Situation Room and rushed to rejoin his colleagues.
The Commander looked at his device to check the time. Lunch curfew would hit in a few hours. He had time to complete a few tasks before he grabbed a bite. The Council had stopped bugging him for a while and so did the aliens. Only Exalt occupied his mind. He needed to soothe his fixations. After all, he had a flash drive to review; the concluded meeting was only a brief discussion.
"Anything for me to do, Commander?" Bradford asked.
"You can do whatever's on your schedule. I do urge you to review the contents of the USB key, though. I'd like it done before tomorrow. I plan on giving a debriefing on Omega Squad and I want you there — in the afternoon."
"Copy that, Commander," the Executive Officer nodded and replied.
They left the Situation Room vacant and went to their stations. Bradford had a few alerts during his absence to attend to. The aliens had deployed a few scouting vessels, but it did not take a few minutes for a country to report a missile launch. The nations had deployed their anti-air systems, and so far, it has been working wonders. Although, I did make it harder to lay claim on alien artefacts. The rules dictated that all alien artefacts belonged to the country it was found in — that included airspace. In most cases, XCOM had about ten minutes to issue a claim before a country launched a missile or fighter to intercept.
The Commander trusted his second in command to choose any targets the scientists and engineers would drool for. XCOM's forces were still recuperating from previous missions so Bradford only had a small number of task forces to deploy on a crash landing. He decided to abstain from deploying and let the Danish government determine the fate of the few alien vessels over Greenland.
The Commander did not disagree and parted from Mission Control. He turned to his right and walked down the hallway until he reached the central elevator. A few workers came out, hauling large boxes on chariots. They bowed as Henry stepped aside to let them pass. He commandeered the lift for himself after they left. He stepped out and navigated the hallways of the second floor.
As he neared his door, he noticed a woman in uniform waiting in front of it as she pressed the button to the doorbell. The Commander could identify Natalia. She turned around, hearing his footsteps closing in on her.
"Natalia?"
The colonel quickly saluted before responding.
"Hello, Henry. I just came in to check up on you."
"Check up?"
"Well, I'd also like to report that three out of ten of my squads have undergone the genetic surgery as was mandated. Otherwise, I came in to see how you were doing."
Henry smiled at the small gesture. He had not taken any opportunity to unwind in a long time. He would be spending time talking to his soldiers, but the job required him to be constantly on edge. It all left him tired and unwanting to hang out in the recreation rooms. The last he had talked to his soldiers was in the showers, but it was only a quick exchange of pleasantries.
In the end, he could always trust Natalia to look after him as she always did. They had become unrepeatable since they operated together for the first time. Natalia was simply caring and pleasant to be around. The job has driven a wedge between them. Henry could use someone like her around when things got tense. Now seemed like one of those moments.
"Since you're here, wanna come in?"
"If you don't mind," the colonel replied.
Henry put his index on the small scanner near the door. He waited for the larger one above it to confirm his identity. As he heard a snap, the doors automatically slid open as was the fashion with all entrances in XCOM.
Natalia followed into the room. She was greeted by a small living room that conveyed a strong sense of professionalism. She was almost disappointed as only a low table and a couple of comfortable seats filled the room. It had a few plants, a small bookshelf and a stand with snacks. The large TV screen and fake fireplace were the only "luxuries" in the room. The walls were a lighter, pastel shade of grey than the rest of XCOM and the floor was wooden — unlike the occasional industrial-pattern metal or smoothed cement.
"This is what your living quarters look like?"
The Commander turned to face his questioning guest.
"Yeah. I didn't want anything too fancy."
Natalia looked around again.
"I don't think the architect anticipated your sense of humility. If I were you, I'd liven things up."
Henry chuckled.
"I think they wanted me to use this as a living room, but I just use it for when I have guests — an office of sorts. Originally, they wanted me to have my own literal bathroom and a kitchen, but I declined. In the end, they expanded my bedroom, kept the bathroom to a simpler design and turned my kitchen into a vault."
"A vault?" Natalia reacted in awe.
"I don't use it for much, though. I only keep some of my belongings there instead of letting them collect dust back at home. It does have a refrigerated section with a large array of batteries that can last half a century apparently. I have no clue what to do with it. From what I'm told it operates independently from the base's power grid but can be charged by it. I just keep the cooling off since I have no need."
Natalia failed at containing her amusement and laughed at the absurdity.
"Always a minimalist until the end, Henry," she teased.
The Commander scoffed sarcastically.
"Never mind that. You came to check on me, Natalia?"
"Well, I just came to see what you've been up to. You haven't come to the barracks in a while so I assume you've been really busy. Things have evidently escalated since a few weeks ago."
"I haven't had much time to visit because of it."
"I hope I'm not bothering you now," she realised.
"Don't worry about it. I have time to kill. Things have just gotten a lot more complicated with Exalt in the picture and Omega Squad."
"Omega Squad?" the colonel reacted, confused.
"I'll tell you later. I plan on informing the colonels soon."
The Commander sensed a vibration in his pocket. He reached into his coat and looked at his device. Bradford was calling. He took the call.
"Commander, we've picked up an anonymous public transmission! I'm forwarding it to your device now. It's a video," he informed.
Henry decided to take advantage of his large TV screen and connected a nearby laptop. He entered his credentials to connect the device to XCOM's network. He navigated the screen until he noticed the file sent by Bradford. The video popped up on his TV screen.
An unknown caucasian man stared at the camera. He wore a formal white shirt, orange tie and grey slacks. His mouth and nose were covered by a red-and-orange striped bandanna. His flanks were covered by black military, tactical webbing and bandoliers. Whomever this person was, Henry could tell that it was about something serious and nothing about casual business.
"Dear brothers and sisters, we have suffered. The world crumbles in the face of multiple scourges," the man declared. "We face hardships every day, but this is the hardest. Judgement Day has come. The people die in droves while those in power hide in their bunkers, accompanied by their cabal."
Henry could detect a British accent. He was thrown off as the screen went static and another similarly dressed man began to speak.
"We are divided. We are greedy. We are indecisive. Men and women, today is the day that we fight!" the second man said in an American accent. "Today is the day we unite. Today is the day that the evolution of man from its primitive stage begins. The invaders are only but a test. Rise up! We must fight the invaders with all our might! Take up arms, dear people, for today is the day that we now be exalted!"
The screen went static once more and another figure took over. This time, the man looked Asian. He wore the same clothes but was armed with a sidearm. The Commander could not make out the type of pistol.
"But first, we must end our divisions. We must strike the heads of the politicians who only wish to rule us like kings! We must fight to shatter our borders. We must bring the rich to their knees until they buy us the guns we need. They will be our allies. And when we have accomplished the first step to our evolution, we shall strike at the heart of the alien menace. We will defeat the illnesses ravaging our fragile yet powerful bodies. We will be an unstoppable force! We will be a kind who has transcended the barriers placed on us."
Eastern Asian accent, Henry noted. The speaker shifted to a woman with a Slavic accent. Her attire was the same as the mens'.
"This message goes to the rulers of this world, to those fighting and failing to contain the alien menace and deny us the right to be at our maximal strength. We are Exalt! We are much stronger than any army. We are much stronger than that damn XCOM and Commander Henry Avant that you so hold dear. We are much more organised than the United Nations or its pathetic child the Council of Nations!"
Another woman appeared on screen. Henry could discern a European French accent.
"When the day dies and another is born, when the night reaches its apogee, we will strike. The bigger they are, the harder they fall. We will claim the tools that were bestowed on us. With them, we shall evolve into something much stronger. The clock is ticking. Our weapons are gleaming."
The video came to an end.