X-Com - The Unknown Menace

X-Com – The Unknown Menace

Chapter Nine – Fortune Reversals

April 29th, 1999

New York City, US

When Blake put down the phone and made a final remark on his notebook, he thought of a way to make the whole thing presentable for his editor. So far he had the statements of ten witnesses and he could get more if he wanted but those should be enough. He had been right on following the story he had been told from a friend of his that had gone into a two week vacation to Cancun. While at first Blake was skeptical, since it could be first attributed to the amount of alcohol he had consumed that night, the friend had admitted he had taken a little too much tequila that night, but he swore that what he had seen was real. A few phone calls to Mexican UFO organizations and to other people who had been at the area when it happened confirmed that several lights had been seen over flying the tourist city. One of the witnesses, who was driving on the countryside, close to the city, even claimed to have seen a small gray creature in the middle of the highway before it ran away and disappeared. Blake wouldn't mention it to his editor or write about it though since there was no way to confirm it and sounded too unbelievable.

He got up and went to the desk where his editor was seated taking a call. When he put down the phone he asked to Blake: "What do you got Evan?"

"Phil, I have ten people with no relation between them and living all across the country telling me that they saw a group of UFOs at night two weeks ago in Cancun".

The man exhaled. "Another one of your ET stories? Give me a break and get me something more real, like a scandal or anything like it. Ever since the Kosovo war ended we haven't got any major news".

"I know. That's why I'm bringing this up to you. The military must be involved big time into this. There's something here they aren't telling us".

His editor's face suddenly became all lit up but he suddenly winced and said: "You better had some proof of this or I'm going to get really pissed now!"

"Come to my computer, I'm gonna show you something". Both men walked to Blake's table. The reporter sat down and started using his computer. Launching his browser, he started navigating on the Internet. "What are you doing?" His editor asked.

"Due to the nature of this material, I've kept it hidden over a dozen different locations on the Web. That way if someone tries to take it away they will have to do a lot of digging". He made a final click and said: "Where we go. Watch the screen!". He punched a command and the computer begun downloading and playing the file that contained the movie of the destruction of the Aurora. His boss become mesmerized and at the end asked: "Are you sure this isn't image manipulation?"

"I've shown it to a couple people who work at computer graphics and photography. They said this isn't a fake and that the object is really there. Moreover there's also an infrared and radar tapes on the event that came together. The Air Force had these taken by one of its reconnaissance birds and a fast one, never seen of".

"So you believe that this is military footage? Where this came from? Someone of your acquaintances down the Pentagon?"

"There's no trace of the sender in the paper's server logs. It simply arrived at my email box".

"How can you be sure of this footage here, Blake? This can just be a prank!".

"This is were my 'acquaintances at the Pentagon', like you put it, work for something. I've shown a clip of it to one of them. He went numb and immediately asked me where I got it".

"Seemed impressed?"

"Let's just say he advised me not to show it to anyone else or I might be in trouble later. Me and the Department of Defense, for allowing such top-security material to be hanging around in the Internet".

"Why do you think you got it? Someone pissed at something at the DoD?"

"Most likely. There will be hell to explain at Washington about how this got out and that there might be unidentified craft over flying our country".

"OK. We'll do a half-page on this. Nothing too flashy on headlines or the paper's board will have my head".

"I can do my ET story after all?" Blake was surprised.

"Yeah, but center it on the movie. Let's see what the Air Force says about this. Show it to me by Monday". Watching his editor leave, Blake wanted to tell him to take a hike, since it would mean work on the weekend, but he kept his mouth shut.

April 30th, 1999

Geneva, Switzerland

"And thus gentlemen, the South African government upon appreciation of the reports brought to this council's attention and review has decided to cut back it's funding to the Extraterrestrial Combat Unit". Illyuschenko threw back his head in despair as the African councilmen made the final announcement in a long list of cutbacks already made by the other countries that supported X-Com. Nigeria had been the first, followed by China and some other countries mostly in the Southern hemisphere of the planet. And Illyuschenko already knew that this was coming, upon reading the provisional report made by his staff a couple of days ago about reported alien activity on Earth.

His men and planes had taken more than one hundred and fifty combat missions only in the first four months since the first base had been activated. They had succeeded in killing hundreds of aliens and dozens of UFOs while losing near one hundred troops, either killed or injured. And still it hasn't enough to convince most of the national representatives seated that they needed more funding. Some of the countries had expressed the idea of releasing X-Com's technological secrets, but the majority now seemed to against it. Hell, the majority was against every damn thing!

"What about the proposal advanced by the General Secretary to allow more countries into the Council?" In a last effort to raise their funding, both Illyuschenko and the leader of the UN had proposed allowing more nations into X-Com in order to allow them with more resources and money. The Indian representative turned and said:

"Yes. My country doesn't think that would be necessary or advisable".

"What are you talking about? We could use the help of some countries who are stable. I provided you all with a list. Asiatic nations like Thailand ou South Korea, the Scandinavian countries, others in South America. X-Com could really use their help". Another dead end, Illyuschenko thought.

"You have failed so far to properly protect some of the nations who are seated here today Commander. It would not be wise to try to defend more of the planet now. If they bring down the nations who are seated on this room right now, the rest won't be able to do very much. X-Com should pay more effort to the ones who first invested on it".

"Mr. Councilman, my men are doing the best they can and dying at it while you sit here on your offices and do nothing else than to shuffle a paper occasionally so don't give me that talk!" Illyuschenko was already getting up to throw himself on the Indian councilman when the American councilman intervened.

"General! If I may?" His voice was strong and well placed, making Illyuschenko stop and sit back down again. "Please do". He threw himself backwards on frustration.

"While my country recognizes X-Com's efforts and has even agreed to raise the funding, we don't appreciate one thing on this whole matter. The project seems to have turned itself into a large bottomless pit of money, sir. This month's report is highly unsatisfactory on that matter".

"Mr. Councilman, what do you expect me to do? I can't tell my men that they won't get the weapons they need because of some bureaucrat more concerned with numbers than their lives!"

"Commander, we all here understand your position. Try to understand ours. So far my country's contribution to this whole project has come close to more than six billion US dollars. That's a lot of money sir. If we want to keep this whole operation still a secret you need to get your finances back together. Otherwise we will terminate this whole project".

May 4th, 1999

White House, Washington DC, US

"UFOs: Tax dollars at work or something else?" As soon as Winston finished reading the title and seeing the picture taken from the Aurora's disastrous reconnaissance run he knew that someone had screwed up big time. He completely ignored breakfast and kept reading. The story was not on the front pages of the paper fortunately, but what was there meant real trouble already.

"The Federal government might have a deeper interest than the official policy about Unidentified Flying Objects, according to the footage obtained by the New York Times.

The footage, taken by one US reconnaissance plane at a contemporary date clearly reveals the existence of a strange craft flying on the air at amazing speeds. The date of this occurrence isn't revealed neither the identity of the plane involved, but aeronautical experts have concluded that it must be one of the 'black budget' projects, probably the famous Aurora, whose existence as also been denied by the USAF. However, the question prevails, what is the object filmed? Neither of the experts could come up with a plausible explanation, besides it being either another 'black project' or a real UFO.

In any case, the craft is clearly the same as reported in another so called 'UFO observations', the latest of which apparently over flew the Mexican city of Cancun, prompting to many reports by American citizens who were on the area who identified it upon seeing the footage.

The main question is, then: what are the intentions behind the pilots of such advanced craft? What does the US Government know about it? Enquiries to official sources at the Pentagon denied any present involvement or research into this area, but the footage seems to show otherwise".

Winston had stopped reading then, having enough, and one hour later he headed towards the Situation Room. Looking at the National Security Council seated in front of him, he saw that some of them were still being informed of the whole crisis and were reading the paper's story. This was a major political disaster that would need a lot of explanations to do and a lot of work to still keep the whole thing a secret. They had to be able to do that. If word ever came out of the aliens' existence chaos would emerge and fighting the aliens would become even more difficult.

"We need to control this disaster before it spreads. I have had already phone calls from Capitol Hill wanting to know what is going on in our skies. If this keeps going pretty soon Congress will start making enquiries about the subject. Gentlemen, I'm open to suggestions".

The National Security Adviser asked to speak. "Sir, first I would say that we need the Bureau's Counter Espionage Division and the National Security Agency to see how was it possible for such a leak to have occurred. This material was Sensitive Contained Information, even more confidential than Top Secret".

"Very well, Mrs. May. Where do you think we should start?"

"The information is even more secret than our Stealth planes research. We need to see who had access to it on our side but it won't be easy since the individual will know that we are looking for him and covering his tracks. But, of course there's also the possibility that the leak didn't occur on our side". Several of the military present in the room nodded their heads in consent.

Edward Polk, the Defense Secretary turned to her and questioned: "You suspect the leak was on X-Com?"

Her voice turned a bit colder. "That organization has no internal security. Although they ask us to run security clearances for prospect members that are US citizens there's no control whatsoever in the inside".

"They are a military force, not an intelligence agency or even the Red Army. You can't have controllers inside such a unit. The suspicion would drive them apart".

"Nevertheless, I believe that we ask for a reunion of the Council to specifically discuss the problem of internal security inside X-Com. This is something I would say the majority of the countries present would consider most adequate to discuss".

"Commander Illyuschenko won't be pleased to have intelligence and security personnel going around. Even visits from the Representatives have to be arranged in advance".

"We present it with something they can't refuse and propose that they form an Intelligence branch of their own. That way they will have more autonomy, although in practical matters we still will control what information we decide to pass into them so that we can prevent more incidents like these". She pointed at the paper and turned to the President, to see his reaction to the proposal.

The President turned to the DCI to see his opinion. Mark Casper scratched his head and replied: "Well, the idea makes sense and would avoid coordination problems like we have been experiencing. They would be able to deal with the alien situation a lot more efficiently and independent in intelligence terms". Winston looked around to see if there were more ideas but, since no one replied, he finished the topic. "Very well. Mark, I want you to discuss with the rest of the Intelligence to see what we could provide them. Now back to the NY Times situation. What are we going to do about it?"

May 5th, 1999

Central Iowa, US

The two Skyrangers were flying in a loose formation, several hundred feet apart from one another. No matter what High Command said about sparing resources, Johnson still thought that they just couldn't cut back on operational deployment. Besides, it would be a complete waste to leave a platoon back on base sitting idly while the other one was risking itself to storm an UFO. Besides, it was a pleasure to have the old team, him, Markovitch and Patterson acting back together. The old team. That sure brought a lot of memories back. Johnson had met Markovitch on his old Army Aviation Regiment when she was assigned under his command. Patterson had come along on the way, in so many operational missions done together with the Air Force and he was the finest executive officer Johnson had ever served with. But then Sheila decided to leave after some time and I got inside the Green Berets, he remembered. I did what I had to do, he concluded. Yes, but was it the right thing to do? The thought troubled him for some minutes, until Major Patterson's voice cut in the radio. "Two minutes for touchdown. I say we keep the second Skyranger airborne and ready to give back up if we need it. Markovitch here doesn't' look too pleased at that thought".

"Copy that. Alpha, Epsilon and Beta squads prepare do deploy". After checking the power level of his laser rifle and found it fully charged, Johnson then put the safety off and got ready for the incoming fight, getting up from his seat and grabbing one of the harnesses attached to the sides of the plane.

The Celtic cross type saucer had been detected already over the Midwest, where it had stood for some minutes before setting down. The radar track showed it to have landed in a farm and the first Skyranger headed directly to the place, setting down in a small vegetable plantation. Two seconds before it hit the ground the rear ramp started to descend, the servo-hydraulic engines giving out a small whine.

Corporal Logan stood ready in front of the other men, ready to take point and be the first trooper to hit the ground. Trooper Sharpe of Beta Squad, who would cover the left side, while he had the duty of securing the right, was flanking him. Not a duty but more of a pleasure actually since he had volunteered for it. Manning and Deckard, the other troopers on Epsilon, were calling him nuts because of his suicidal instincts but he didn't care. Letting go of his rage was the only thing that kept him away the fear and revulsion he had of the monsters.

Not had the ramp fully descended and he was already running over it, much to the chagrin of Sergeant Grisham who barked at him a warning. Sharpe was trying to follow, surprised by the motion, but he touched the ground much faster than the other squaddie. He saw that the Skyranger had landed right next to one barn probably hoping to give some cover for the platoon. But there was something there.

A shape moved on the upper floor of the wooden building and slowly appeared behind a window, in no doubt trying to locate the human attackers. Logan immediately fired a round of automatic laser fire into the direction of the alien, but all the shots missed, burning through the wooden walls and leaving scorched marks on them.

The alien inside replied and two of the plasma burns hit the Skyranger's left engine but the armored shielding protected the turbojet inside. The third shot hit the cultivated floor right next to Logan, making him recoil backwards and spoiling his aim for his next salvo. The laser rifle discharges went harmlessly over the barn making him swear as he saw a large bulbous head carefully aim a plasma rifle at him.

The sound of an autocannon going on full auto suddenly erupted near him and his reaction instincts kicked in and he instantly projected himself to the ground. One high-explosive projectile flew and hit the window, wrecking the glass and splintering the wood around it. The blast was also sufficient to make the alien stumble backwards, but before the Sectoid hit the ground a second shot hit it square in the chest. The round exploded on impact and the alien was dismembered, the remains of the head and arms falling into the barn floor a moment after the rest of the body.

Logan looked around, but the remainder of the X-Com squad had already started to deploy phosphorous grenades that were covering the LZ with heavy, white smoke. He found himself without a sense of direction and unable to find the rest of his squad.

"Logan, get the fuck up! You are point man and this isn't a picnic!" Sarge Grisham's figure appeared in the middle of the smoke curtain. "Get your ass in the front and remember to leave some of the fun to us!"

The Corporal got up in haste and headed towards the direction where Grisham was pointing at, trying not to inhale the smoke but still coughing some times. Taking a quick dash he reached the other members of his squad who were by now standing against the wall of the barn. A grenade suddenly exploded in the middle of the confusion and smoke that had become the landing zone and one of the soldiers who were still disembarking suddenly screamed in pain, before shutting his mouth. The sound was muffled on Logan's ears, which were still recovering from the sound wave caused by the explosion. "Bug in the middle of the orchard!" Manning suddenly called after taking a look around the barn and started pulling autocannon fire into the middle of the fruit trees.

"Logan, Deckard! Flush him out with the same treatment!" Both troopers reached for their belt and took out grenades. Setting them up for a short fuse they both nodded to one another before negotiating the corner.

The alien was using the trees to get some cover but the heavy fire from Manning's weapon was forcing him to be constantly on the move and not being able to fight back. The two grenades landed on both sides of the tree he was using for protection and a loud shriek was heard before they went off. The blast wrecked the base of the tree, making the upper section come down on the ground.

Johnson appeared by the team, together with Major Patterson. "Let's get moving! The UFO should be after the field!" Logan looked and started running towards the nearest tree. When he reached it he took cover behind it and looked around. The entrance to the barn was on his right side and on the left he could see the top floor of another farmhouse. No aliens lurking around in the windows though. Seeing that Deckard was moving around to his position and had the barn covered, he moved to the bush fence that was nearly as tall as a man and waited by the entrance in front of him, taking a brief look. The UFO had landed in a similar farmed field to the one where the Skyranger had landed and they were now directly facing the door. The remaining troopers joined him after some seconds and he was about to make the final run to get to the craft when the Colonel motioned him to stop.

"Beta and Alpha what's your status?" So far everything had been too easy, Johnson thought. Hopkins was the first to reply. "We have approached the farmhouse and are about to start checking it out". Then came Captain Forrester's voice. "Barn is clear. We have spotted two Sectoids to the East and are moving to suppress their fire". It would taken both squads quite some more minutes before being able to move. Four, possibly five aliens had been encountered so far. Too few for his liking and experience of how many aliens that type of craft could carry. Where were the others? Inside the UFO and getting ready to blast every trooper who tried to step inside? Or still lurking outside around and hoping to use their murderous sniper fire on them? Either way it was time to play his high trump card and take initiative. "Second Platoon, deploy opposite from us and start fanning any aliens towards our direction. Alpha, Epsilon, watch out for incoming aliens. Let's give them a lesson on who to perform ambushes this time".

 Logan was trying to wait as calm as possibly but the adrenaline he had already taken from the previous gunfight was leaving him nervous and impatient. "Beta move out and watch out the UFO's door!" The Colonel's order quickly sprung him into action. He cleared the bushes and started to move towards the UFO, keeping his head low and his eyes alert. The remainder of the squad quickly followed him, Manning finding himself a position to cover the door with his large cannon and the other four X-Com troopers following him.

The distance between the fence and the UFO was a bit less than fifty yards away and even at a cautious pace he got halfway in a quick manner. In fact he didn't noticed how fast he was going until he heard Sarge Grisham's voice. "Logan, slow down". He dropped with one knee on the earth and turned around to check on the rest of the squad.

The summer Sun was burning up high in the sky, baking the whole Midwest like an oven. He saw that they had all advanced but not as further as him. Behind them stood the barn they had just passed. And a large headed creature that had just come into view right at the roof. "Alien! Get down!" Logan shouted while trying to bear his weapon to the threat. An intense pain from his right shoulder suddenly turned everything into a whirl of constant pain and he passed out.

Johnson's attention from the door was first distracted by the alert and then by the plasma fire coming from the farmhouse. They were out in the open, in the middle of a field that offered little in protection and the aliens seemed to hold the high ground. He checked to see where the alien on their backs was and saw a figure in the roof. Damn! The barn was supposed to be clear! Major fuckup. The plasma rounds where already flying and his men were trying to respond but the alien's position made it damn difficult to root them out. They need to do something before the grenades would start to rain down of the sky and cut them into pieces.

"Beta, there are aliens on the roof of the farmhouse and barn, clear them out now!" He was about to start responding when a whoosh sound coming from the UFO made him stop on his motion. 

Hopkins' squad had just checked the ground level of the farmhouse and where about to proceed to the upper floor. So far they hadn't found a trace of any creature, either human or alien, either dead or alive and the Sergeant had wondered what happened to the people who lived at this farm. Everything looked quite in order in the kitchen and living room, without the sort of chaos expected from a recent visit from extraterrestrial beings. Did they managed to escape as they saw the UFO approaching? Or where they killed or abducted? He was afraid of what they might find upstairs in the bedrooms. The call from Johnson made him jump in the middle of the living room. One of the troopers quickly started to head for the stairs but he looked up and had an idea. A quite mad one, but a faster one to take out the alien in the ceiling.

The first Sectoid to come out of the UFO had one of their large plasma weapons on their hands. It was amazing that it could manage to use a gun of almost his own height, but Johnson's attention was more focused on taking him down. Two well-placed laser rifles made in go down releasing a shriek that turned his blood cold. Last piece of the trap set into place. The situation looked as if all hell had broken loose, with two of his troopers already on ground, either dead or severely injured.

With no escape possible from either side, they could only try to hold out until the reinforcements took care of the aliens who were ambushing them. And taking heavy casualties in the process, he realized while keeping the UFO covered. Or they could try to get some cover, preferably on a place where the alien's weapons and explosives wouldn't obliterate them.

"Let's get a place to hide! Follow me!" He dashed towards the closed door. The UFO most likely was crowded with aliens. But it also would protect them from the plasma fire and was the place less logical for an attempt to escape the ambush. Screw caution.

"Cut me a large hole up there with the lasers!" Hopkins pointed to a place on the ceiling in the north section of the house. The soldiers from his squad paused for a moment, surprised at the orders but quickly brought their laser weapons upwards, the beams slicing through the wood and plaster and making the ceiling turn red and releasing dark fumes. One of the cuts intersected another and when the third one crossed both the whole section came down. Hopkins paid no attention when it crashed to the ground, spreading plaster all over the room. He had taken the time to get Big Momma ready and now was pointing it to the hole on the ceiling. The rest of his squad realized in amazement of what the Gunnery Sergeant was about to do and quickly moved to the sides.

He was well inside the rocket launcher's minimum range but he hoped that the first floor would give him enough cover. This isn't heroics, you idiot, this is pure stupidity, he heard a voice inside warning him, but ignored it. When he lined up the M3 with the hole he pressed the trigger. When he felt the rocket leaving the tube he immediately jumped to the side. The unguided rocket exploded against the roof, the blast still hitting the side of Hopkins, but the protection given by the body armor hang out. Not the same happened with the floor of the upper level and roof. The blast made the top of the farmhouse literally disintegrate in the air and caved downwards in the area around the cut hole, making wooden beams collapse and throwing around a cloud of dust that obscured the area.

Hopkins found himself on the ground, covered with powder and the remains of the furniture and floor of the first level, but with no major injuries. And laying close to him was the Sectoid from that was sniping on the roof, still alive but looking completely dazzled and with cuts colored green from the alien's blood. Hopkins realized that the thing probably had also broken a few bones by the position one of his arms had taken. His weapon was also close to him and he looked as if he was about to try to go for it. Hopkins took out a combat knife from one of his legs and said: "Oh, no you don't".

The second Sectoid that exited the craft managed to get loose a pair of plasma bolts before he was also killed at nearly point blank, his gray body falling over the alien that had suffered the same fate before. Johnson quickly reached the door and moved closer to activate the opening mechanism. The gray fuselage slided upwards again and he threw himself on a roll inside. The two Sectoids who where close by the door immediately turned towards him. A reaction shot from one of them nearly hit him but the energy instead dissipated itself in the floor of the UFO, leaving nothing but a black mark. He fired his laser rifle at him while still down at the ground, at the same time as the other Sectoid also discharged his plasma rifle. The first alien took a hit on the leg that amputated it, the pain making him join Johnson down.

But the Colonel immediately felt his arm on fire and a deep pain forced him to release his weapon and cringe his mouth. Raising his head he saw second Sectoid correct his aim and fire another shot at him.

When Markovitch and Patterson reached the UFO they saw that the area seemed to have been just cleared of any hostiles, with two troopers helping a wounded comrade coming out of the craft. "What happened? Where is the Colonel? We heard it on the radio. Is he OK?" She immediately demanded to Captain Forrester as he saw them and approached their position. The X-Com officer sighted and closed his eyes for a moment before replying.

"The area and the UFO are secure. But Epsilon got ambushed and the Colonel took a nasty hit when storming the UFO for them to retreat and get some cover on the craft. He is holding barely alive and has been already moved to the Skyranger but I doubt that he will make it back to base. Logan and White were hit badly but we got both of them stabilized. Plus Chester and Tawney. Found the civvies also. The whole family was cut into pieces".

The Captain sighted hoping that the whole situation was just a bad dream. Markovitch suddenly pushed him, making him drop to the grass on his back. "What the fuck happened!? Your squad was supposed to have checked that barn! I heard you on the radio!" She was about to jump herself on him but Patterson, sensing what she was about to do, quick grabbed her shoulders and prevented it. Forrester stood in resignation on the ground. "There was no stairs to the roof. Somehow the alien managed to climb up there".

"And getting to the perfect place for an ambush you shit brains!" Forrester said nothing at the accusation. She released herself of Patterson's hold and kicked the UFO's fuselage. Patterson added: "We will discuss this later. Right now let's finish boarding the wounded and get the Skyranger to dust off. Maybe if we get to the nearest military base the Colonel might have a chance".

"I'm going with him". Her tone gave no voice for discussion. Patterson only nodded at her and she started sprinting off into the Skyranger's direction.

May 9th, 1999

Press Room, White House, Washington DC, US

Every journalist present in the auditorium had adopted one of two stances. They either didn't believe any part of the story and looked at him sideways or they had expressed to him that they wanted to see what the Government would do about it. When the Defense Secretary came into the room and stood behind the podium he put away all those questions.

"Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. Today it is my pleasure to announce you one of the latest achievements by our aerospace industry. There were rumors about it before, but so far the program has been highly classified, for matters of national security".

Blake waited in anticipation. Did he really pushed them against the wall so that they needed to come out like this?

"With the retirement of the SR-71 strategic reconnaissance plane in the beginning of the 90's there was the development of a substitute, much more capable than the old 'Blackbird'. So, let me present you the SR-75 Black Ghost, designed by the world famous Lockheed Skunk Works, following the tradition of such planes as the U-2 and the SR-71". He uncovered a panel placed close to him and a large picture of the Aurora was revealed. "We have been operating them for some time and right now there is a squadron based at Tonopah Test Range in Nevada. If you recall that is the facility where the F-117 was also initially based".

Tonopah! Blake suddenly realized. What is going on at Area 51 then, since the place sure doesn't look deserted now? He brought his attention back to the press conference. The Secretary was finishing his presentation.

"But I've talked too much already. Please, shoot me with your questions, but not literally, of course". All the journalists started at the same time to ask questions and Polk took extra delight in picking up individuals.

"Mr. Secretary, John Stevens of ABC News. Is that the plane known as the Aurora?"

"Yes. This is the craft famous for the sonic booms produced a couple of years ago over Southern California". Another journalist posed a question.

"Is it a spy plane?"

"We prefer to call it a reconnaissance asset. Please feel free to bombard me with your questions, but some aspects of the Black Ghost are still classified for the time being".

Blake's voice imposed over the others. "Is it responsible for the wave of UFO apparitions we have been seeing for the past months". Polk didn't even waver at the enquiry.

"Now that is a most interesting question, Mr…. Blake if I'm not wrong? Let me tell you that quite some people at the Pentagon took good laughs at your article. Regrettably, the footage you refer to is nothing more than a hoax".

"Can I tell from your answer that the White House denies the existence of UFOs?"

"To clarify the whole question, I will make a public statement regarding that matter right here. The US policy towards the so-called UFOs is still the same: our investigations over the phenomena have led us to believe that they all have a natural background. And neither are our Armed Forces trying to develop such a type of craft at the moment. I'm sorry if that isn't want you wanted to hear, Mr. Blake, but that's the truth".

"And the plane in the footage? Is that the Aurora?"

"I've already given that answer when I mentioned that the images you refer to are nothing more than manipulation. A well constructed one, but still manipulation. Next time check your sources better, Mr. Blake. Now back to the Aurora. Any more questions?"

As the battalion of journalists went over again to their work, Blake stood silent in the room, thinking. The truth, my ass! There's something here that you aren't telling us. And I'm going to find out about it.

May 19th, 1999

X-Com's Far East Command Base, Complex YY-18, Japan

 Colonel Yamashita and Councilman Tamako were standing close to a Skyranger at the tarmac of X-Com's base in the island of Hokkaido in northern Japan. The rear door of the plane was opened and small vehicle was coming down the ramp. While it had the distinct look of a tank with a circular turret riding on the top, the size immediately told that this was no ordinary armoured vehicle. It measured less than eight feet in length and four feet in width, making it look that even if it the crew consisted of only one member, the individual inside it would be completely encased in a metal container. It slowly moved down the ramp until it reached the cement ground. The machine then turned around but at a more quickly speed, before both men. The military official spoke.

"X-Com's first Toyota Type 107A automated heavy weapons platform, Mr. Councilman. It took months to rebuild the research on the artificial intelligence but it has passed with high marks the tests on its ability to deal with military warfare environments. We now will start programming it with the tactics we have developed meanwhile and see how it proved itself on simulated tests. If all goes well it will be operational shortly".

"Please afterwards send me the results. I must say the size isn't impressive, but if it works as the Council was informed we will soon have a powerful new weapon at our disposal. When do you expect to receive more of those?"

"In a week. We should receive the preproduction HWP of the fire-support version equipped with an unguided rocket launcher instead of the 60 millimeter cannon this one is carrying. We tried to put guided missiles on it but they the missiles and the guidance system was just too bulky. However, the engineers here at the base will try to devise a turret equipped with one heavy laser to give them more firepower".

"Preproduction? Hasn't it started already?"

"That is the other reason I wanted to discuss with you Mr. Tamako. In spite of the fact that our country has been most generous with X-Com, the Toyota Company has suspended deliveries or the production until we have cleared the present debt we own to them. And my force is starting to feel operational constraints. We had already to limit the use of Phoenix missiles on our interceptors and use instead the Amraams with shorter range that endanger more our planes".

"X-Com's forces stationed to defend Japan will never have problems about lack of funding or necessary equipment. It is a direct order from the Emperor and you heard it yourself from his Majesty's, Colonel. Tell us what you need and you will receive it, counting that is not too excessive".

"Yes Councilman, but I also tried to fight the aliens before in the Kiryu-Kai and we had all the resources available. And it proved us that no country alone, not even Japan, Russia or the United States can ever hope to defeat the aliens".

May 20th, 1999

Motel Trucker's Paradise, Maryland, US

Waiting at the combined location for the meeting, Williams kept thinking about the memo the DCI had sent him a couple of days ago. The team was going to be separated and he didn't like it a bit. His opinion had been asked about it but he couldn't state the worries that went over his mind. For some reason he wasn't included in the list of the names proposed by the different heads of the US intelligence services to join X-Com. And it made him nervous to feel that he could be kept back at Washington where he could better monitorized. Worse yet, the inclusion of such members could mean the possibility of further leaks into each country's intelligence services and the infiltration of X-Com by the conspirators.

It bothered him to loose Davis and other members from the alien team. Technically they were about to suffer problems in efficiency since the replacements wouldn't be up to date with the whole situation. It all stank of some clever maneuvering behind the scenes and he thought if the National Security Adviser was also just a pawn in proposing the idea or something far more dangerous. After all, resentment against X-Com was slowly increasing over the US military and intelligence services, most of it unjustified or pure jealously, but it was increasing.

Three knocks on the motel room's door brought his attention back to reality. There was a pause, then another identical set of knocks. Like it had been arranged. Such security measures were more to impress the person who was about to come in, since Davis was outside and would react to any sign of trouble. Williams told the man to enter.

Blake opened the door, looked around and found Williams seated by a table, with the lights deliberately low. He closed the door and got inside, grabbing another chair placing himself facing Williams. The CIA man spoke.

"Before anything, it is necessary to clarify some aspects. I won't tell you my name and I'm not another Deep Throat and neither what I have to tell you represents official policy. This conversation never took place and I will deny every word of it. Is that clear?"

"Sure, but please tell the goon outside to give me back my tape recorder when I go out. I can't work with that thing".

"Don't worry. What you should be more concerned about is your work exactly. You have been drawing a lot of attention with some of your articles".

"Are you talking about the UFO situation?"

"I'm saying that some things are kept away from the public's opinion for some reason, specially in a time of crisis. Our government did the same on World War II, since there was a grave necessity of controlling Nazi and Japanese propaganda".

Blake's face became grim. "Are you telling me that we are at war?"

"I didn't say that. But there are many nations that would desire us harm. And some things have good reasons to be considered national security".

"Look, I got hundreds of reports about UFOs going around in the skies, together with more disturbing stories about extraterrestrial beings. Are you going to tell me that all those people are nuts or wrong? Something is going on here and the Government has the duty to inform the citizens".

"In this particular case, there are greater needs to be first fulfilled. Can you imagine what would happen if those reports were confirmed? There would be massive implications and that is just what the forces behind them want".

"The forces behind them? You mean you know what is going on?"

"Before I go on, I must stress the fact that this will all eventually come out one day to the public. It is too much important to be kept a secret, specially when deals with events that changed this century".

Good, Williams say to himself as he noticed the journalist becoming more and more interested. However, the question was to make him understand the necessity of secrecy without telling him too much or confirming other suspects that he might have. "Please carry on. And let me tell you I will take all of that into consideration". Blake asked.

Now, it's time for the big lie, let's see if the axiom that fiction is more believable than reality actually applies. "This whole matter goes back to 1945 and Nazi Germany. Years back Hitler had ordered the development of special projects, such as the world's first jet fighters and the V-bombs. But many more where on their final steps of development, with matters of months before they could be mass-produced to turn events and making Germany win the war. The Allied troops captured the majority of them as they conquered Germany, but of some there was nothing more than vague references without any blueprints or scientists left that could explain the concepts".

"Hold it! Just what does it have to do with the whole UFO situation?"

"I was about to get there. Some of the papers gave out the description of the Heinabu, a saucer type craft with technological abilities that are still a mystery. The prototype was destroyed before Allied troops could capture it and there was no sign of the scientists who had developed it".

"Those things in the air were developed by the Nazis? By who? The Soviet Union?"

"That would make things more simple, but unfortunately the truth is more disturbing than that. As Hitler's empire was crumbling there were U-boats that left Germany full of men and material and headed for some unknown location. Their destination was never known and even now we are at a loss to dig them out, although we have indications that they might have headed for the South Hemisphere. And a lot of strange events have been taking place in the world and more especially in Europe at the moment. Nationalism at an unheard scale all over Europe and disaffection, especially in countries with large ethnic minorities. Neonazi groups increasing their presence and numbers. And the beginnings of general discredit over our democratic system, reflected on low voter turnout and so forth. Now go back to the 1920's and see the parallel. Can you imagine what could have happen if suddenly there was an economic recession, together with the fact that there are UFOs out there in the skies?"

"Holy shit! Someone might just use the opportunity to make himself a grab for power!"

"Or be working behind the scenes in one hell of an evil plan, using advanced technology to scare the general populace and increase the sense of insecurity. I'm pleased to see that you share of the same concerns. Until we have fully detected the threat and how to counteract it there are things that are better if they remain silent". And now it's time for the tougher questions, Williams added, that will decide how this meeting will turn out.

"Hold on. You told me a great story, but you haven't given to me any means to confirm it. How can I confirm anything? This could all be a lot of bull".

"You can't. Like I told you, the things I've said don't represent any official position. And there's more but for the moment just being in possession of such information may represent a danger to the person".

"By whom?"

"The very same forces acting behind all this. And no one might be safe from them". Williams told himself to be careful and not reveal his secret. The whole idea had been discussed on the team and had more holes on it than any intelligence plan that they could consider, but it would give them time and might refrain this journalist from posing too many questions.

"You mean I might be in danger?"

"I don't know where you got that footage, but the person behind it breached a security level even greater than the Manhattan Project or the Stealth fighter program. Think about it".

Blake did for some seconds. "Well, I don't know who sent it to me and probably I wouldn't reveal his identity if I did". Just like they had thought, Williams sighed. There was still no indication on who had been responsible for the leak and next time it could be something more damaging, like the recent pictures taken by the Hubble space telescope clearly showing alien ships moving in and out of the dark side of the Moon. At least some of their activities were clearly being conducted from there, since Earth's natural satellite was the perfect spot to for an excellent base of operations to conduct attacks on the planet. There had been some talk for a reconnaissance run by a satellite or even about equipping the Shuttle fleet to conduct an attack on the alien forces based there, but even the probe idea had only a small chance of success. With no doubt the aliens would detect the vehicle and destroy it. No, Earth's space technology was no match for the alien's. Yet, he corrected himself, trying to feel a bit more hopeful, although on his line of work they had to stick to the facts present and make rational decisions about them. Still, they hadn't yet bothered to strike at the satellites in orbit, which was a blessing but also a complete puzzlement. Could it be that they weren't aware of the strategic importance of the reconnaissance, navigation and communications satellites placed on orbit for mankind's military forces? Or did they just have other unknown plans?

"You known, this Neonazi stuff you are telling could just be a lot of crap. I need some evidence of it". The journalist in front of him distracted Williams from his thoughts.

"I can't help you on there. Find your own evidence and think in global terms".

"Why are you doing this? Whom do you work for?"

"You will probably find out if you investigate. But don't ever try to contact me. And I work for people concerned about this planet's future".  Williams quietly wondered how many times that line must have been used to convince people of committing acts of high treason. There's a thin line here he warned himself, before telling Blake that he wouldn't respond to anymore questions and that the meeting was over.

May 25th, 1999

Swiss Banque of Credit Headquarters, Geneva, Switzerland

Tugging at the cuffs of his civilian suit, Illyuschenko wondered about the orders that had come two days ago from the Secretary General of the UN telling him to be present at a meeting in the Swiss financial capital. He had presented himself at the corporate bank's headquarters and had been taken to the last floor of the building, to a large conference room here he found the Secretary General himself. The former Prime Minister of an African nation looked as if he had grown older quite some years, the Commander of X-Com thought. He hadn't been able to tell him much more that he had been invited for a reunion regarding X-Com's financial problems and Illyuschenko knew that the thing was about to become complicated. After last month's cuts in funding from some countries the economic situation of the force was of complete desperation. Their available funds were close to zero and they couldn't buy the necessary ammunition and spare parts anymore. Worse, scientific research in some projects had already been halved for lack of available funding. And the combat attrition the teams suffered only made it worse. If things didn't improve by the end of the month Illyuschenko already knew that they were going bankrupt, probably losing the support of the Council of Funding Nations, which would doom X-Com. The requests for more funding had come unanswered and either they would have to let go of some of the research to some nations to get more money or the whole project was doomed. Which was something that didn't sounded very well to both men. It was clear that some nations were severely penalizing the force for its resolution in controlling access to alien technology and this whole situation, while showing the problems in dealing with just the reported incursions also stank of political maneuvering. Pretty soon they would start demanding other things, like control of the teams based on their territory and that would also dictate the end of X-Com, without a centralized command and with every nation fighting for itself.

Eight old men suddenly entered the room and presentations were made. As he greeted every executive, Illyuschenko noticed that these were the leaders of Switzerland's biggest private financial institutions. All of them sat themselves on chair disposed around a large black circular table, with the bankers sitting together in front of both UN men. The one in the middle started to speak:

"As you know some of us are the presidents of the banks through which your operation is run, as defined on your charter, the initial encounters mediated by the Swiss government". Both Illyuschenko and the General Secretary nodded. Maintain secrecy and neutrality, the Council had decided to deal the financial details through Swiss bank accounts.

"That means a large amount of bureaucracy, which by its turn leaves a rather large paper trail. And our conclusions, based on that same documents, indicate that your organization is doomed financially in the end of his month". Illyuschenko got alarmed, but he decided to listen to more.

"From your reactions I take it that you also share of my thoughts. Even the efforts from your field commanders to selling in black markets the latest Earth weapons, which we take it that are being replaced for better, unheard of so far, material, aren't enough to save you from bankruptcy". Seeing the surprise on both men's eyes he added: "That can be discussed later if you want. For now let's continue. Suffice to say, that would leave us as your owners, since we will take over the necessary assets to cover our own losses. But that would be highly unlikely, since the Council would cover our losses, to allow themselves to your material and research". He paused and had a sip of water from a glass in front of him. "We are not managers, gentlemen. We wouldn't be interested in running your organization. But we are investors and a big chance has appeared on the horizon. The whole stock market depends on the results of a company. If it fails the market goes into a recession, or even completely crashes. What do you do, invest on it, hoping that it will eventually get its results up again? Or see what it happens and keep the funds in case the bad times are about to come? You see the parallel, I suppose?"

Stop this capitalistic talk and tell us want you want, you old idiot or I will be wishing that I had been allow to bring my gun, Illyuschenko thought, almost reaching for his absent holster.

"It's simply a high-risk choice, but we would like to prefer to be prepared for worse times". We're dead, Illyuschenko thought. We are going to be massacred by the aliens while a minority of men has all those fortunes sitting idly or spending them in futile things. And the rest of the world suffers from it again. No wonder communism could be sometimes so attractive.

"The paperwork indicates that you must be getting your bases full of captured alien material. I don't know if you have ever learned about the leasing or, better yet, a pawning system gentlemen but we have decided that it could be most useful on this matter". What is he talking about, Illyuschenko thought? What does that mean?

The UN Secretary understood and replied: "We would lease to you some of the surplus equipment in return for payment?"

"Yes. And afterwards, if you wanted to reclaim it you would have to pay back the amount received, plus a small interest. If you didn't wanted to pay the object would pass to our possession and all matters would be resolved".

They wanted to buy the garbage that was filling his bases? Illyuschenko shook his head. Even building a base with a large storage area hadn't been enough to deal with the cargo problem. There was just too many junk that just couldn't be thrown away into a trash landfill. Because of that, the corridors back on Mother One were becoming filled with crates containing alien alloys, alien weapons and equipment and other things that hadn't been identified yet. Some areas had even started to be called the freak house or the horror corridor because the dead aliens were preserved there in plain sight of all base inhabitants. If they wanted it they could have it, but for what? "Excuse me, but what would it happen to the material? You couldn't just use it or do scientific research on it. The reason why we have it stored at our bases is exactly because of secrecy".

"And why would we want to do that? If you fail no one can save us. On the other hand, if you win the secrecy will be lifted and that material will be worth its weight on gold for scientific research. And we share of your concerns to keep the world a safe place if victory is achieved by not allowing that the technology falls into the wrong hands. Of course, if you decide to sell some of it, we have knowledge of some corporations and entrepreneurs that are very much interested on it. And we could act as intermediaries, leaving your identity concealed. There are other organizations out there, legal ones, of course, that would also pay dearly to get their hands on 'foreign' technology". He paused to see if any of the X-Com's civilian and military commanders wanted to make any questions. Seeing that they were waiting for him to finish, he continued:

"What we will gain then? Well, even if you buy it back we will make a very large profit. As for the where we would keep it, look around when you go out gentlemen. Switzerland is a place of mountains, of tunnels, of caves. There are many Second World War bunkers and shelters that have been abandoned by the military and how are used by civilian enterprises. And you can seal off the crates and watch them being guarded".

The UN Secretary looked at Illyuschenko and he nodded back. There really wasn't much choice, taking into consideration the financial state of X-Com. He then turned to the bankers and said: "How do we work out the details? This has to be done with the greatest discretion. I can't imagine the Council's reaction if they know about it". Illyuschenko added: "And with the greatest speed also. I can't afford losing men and equipment for lack of money!"

"Spoken like a true economist, General. How about if you provide us with a list of existing equipment for us to make an evaluation of their price as quickly as possible?"

May 27th, 1999

Area 51, Nevada, United States

Captain Markovitch had been informed that the Colonel had finally regained consciousness the night before after the injuries he had sustained in Iowa. She had spent most of her free time near his bed, watching his recovery from the heavy plasma blast he had taken on his left chest. The alien alloy armor had been all but consumed by the weapon's destructive power and the shock had collapsed his lung and started a deadly hemorrhage. Nobody knew how Johnson had managed to survive the alien shot. X-Com's doctors had told that her decision to bring him to the nearest hospital available in the area had been a crucial decision. Otherwise he wouldn't have made the journey back into Area 51, but even how Johnson had managed to survive the small trip to the hospital was a mystery. Civilian authorities were going nuts over the fact that she had taken top secret aircraft and men engaged in a covert mission to a civilian medical facility and exposed them, but she had told them to shove it up their asses. Or something in that way of thinking.

She wanted to see him that same day but an UFO warning had been issued and she had been involved the whole day in the recovery of the crash site. They had managed to kill five Sectoids in return for one dead trooper and pretty bashed Celtic cross type UFO. The damn bugs were just using too much of their heavy weaponry nowadays, specially that fucking large plasma weapon.

When the Skyranger had landed back she had removed her armor, taken a shower and headed out for the base infirmary, not bothering to do the debriefing first. When she entered his hospital room she saw that he was sleeping. The first thing that she noticed was the large white bandage covering his left chest. And the machines that monitored his vital signs along with the blood and serum containers placed on the side of his bed, connected to him through a needle on his arm. He suddenly half-opened his eyes and tried to focus on her. Mumbling he then said: "How….how did it go?"

"We made it. Don't worry about it now".

He closed his eyes and tried to raise his arm but the gave it up in the middle of the motion, the limb dropping to his side. She said, half-jokingly: "Talking about a stubborn attitude". He tried to move on his bed as if recollecting his thoughts, his face frowning.

"And the other operation?"

"Major Patterson took over command and successfully defeated the aliens. He has been running the show since".

"Did….did anyone didn't make it?" He opened his eyes again.

She decided to wait before giving him the body count. "They fought like devils. I guess you really inspired them when you decided to jump in the middle of that plasma fire inside the UFO. That and the fact that you've been hit twice in the chest and managed to make it both times. It seems the troops are starting to call you 'Ironheart', and I must say that is a name that suits you in many manners, Erwin".

He looked at her in silence for some seconds. "The doctors told me you came here every day".

"Just checking to see how you were doing".

"And that you spend hours seated by my side".

She moved closer to the bed and spoke: "You know why I did it Erwin".

He kept looking at her, fixing on his eyes. "Yes, I know. I…". She reached and grabbed his hand. "Don't say anymore Erwin. Just rest. There will be time later for this". He gave her one last look and closed his tired eyes, almost immediately going to a peaceful sleep.

André Galvão, 2001