X-Com – The Unknown Menace
Chapter Twenty – A Dark Shadow
July 26th, 2000
Unknown location, Geneva, Switzerland
The meeting had been scheduled for many months in advance and the agenda already decided by unspoken consensus, defined by the time and events that had occurred meanwhile. The major part of the plan was starting to unfold itself and the lack of necessity for the reunion to take place before was a sign to number Two that everyone seated on the large room thought that things were going as planned, with the minor deviancies allowed. That was not his personal belief though. The aliens, as always, were too elusive, too dark in their own purposes and how they persued the installment of their plans. Their will was to conquer, to absorve, the Earth's nations to survive or die fighting. In spite of all they had learned about them there simply had never discovered any way to put pressure on the aliens. Some things worked in one occasion or the other, only to be completely discarded afterwards after they proved ineffectual. But two years after its inception, X-Com was still a thorn on the alien's side, even prompting them to make a retaliatory raid against one of their bases. The after battle reports showed that the teams based there had taken quite a beating and the base facilities had also suffered extensive damage. But to number Two they had also meant that the aliens had considered necessary to use some of their crack troops for the attack, not to mention that the majority of the aliens had been killed on that attack. This was something unheard for him until now. But it wasn't the time to press such concerns or ideas and he kept listening to number Nine's account of the US' political situation.
"The leak also allowed us to perform another task in dealing with the US intelligence machine: the Director of the CIA resigned right afterwards, both for personal reasons and also the blunder of the leak. What it isn't known is that apparently had he some dark secrets, regarding nude pictures of children found on his computer. We just let him and President Winston knew about his dirty vices".
Number Two interjected. "That is hardly enough. As you know their key personnel related to intelligence gathering and evaluation are still at their positions. And the counterintelligence machine will be seeking for the perpetrator of the leak".
Number Seven kept the ugly smile on his face. "They will never find it. We actually tried to devise a way so that the leak and consequent blame would be traced to X-Com, but there was a minimal risk of detection which made us discard it".
"The question is moot". Three had apparently taken the task of moderating the discussion, something usually reserved for One. "The changes will happen too gradually for anyone to take notice. And when they do either it will be too late or they will have to be terminated. We have the key personnel under watch or control. This discussion is related to another item on the agenda and I propose we move to it now, the effects of the official acknowledgement of UFOs. This has been planned in advance and the consequences seem to be what we were expecting. The conditions are set so that we put a greater pressure into the world governments and show their inability to deal with the situation to the public".
"I concur with that assessment", Number Four continued picking up a pause on the other man's speech. "There is growing unrest over the major Russian cities, especially with the insecurity being felt with the announcement of UFOs plus the Chinese crisis and the latest kidnappings and bombings made by Chechen terrorists".
"The Chinese situation nearly got out of our hands". Number Four, a lean Asian with slick white hair countered. "Our friends'", he put emphasis on that word, "and their actions nearly started a war between China and all of the major powers in the area. And their attack on the Japanese base made no sense, except for the explanation that they are testing us. They wanted to see how all of us operate to be better prepared for the take-over".
"They were only interpreting their part of the plan as they seem fit. They have done this before". Nine seemed annoyed at Four's interruption of his close to perfect report. As if it had been rehearsed before, Three also contributed to his speech. "Overall things are proceeding as planned: things in the Middle East are starting to heat up, which will bring into further increases on the oil prices. In Africa the situation is as we have kept it for years: their corrupt leaders are either powerless to deal with the crisis in their own countries or too greedy to think other than themselves. South America will also be hit hard in the future, as soon the credit to sustain their economies dry up".
"That only leaves the Western countries and the Asian regional powers. So far we haven't seen them yet attain the level of destabilization foreseen". A lesser member asked and Three was quick to answer him, giving him a glance of warning. "Yes. But that soon will change. The plans are already being implemented: we have all the time available before the deadline".
Seeing the rest of the meeting went by, Two kept quiet because he had already assessed that no substantial decisions would came out and decided to speak only when required and listen. Only time would bring any changes and he already knew that you couldn't hasten the passage of the days, only be alert to recognize and act on the decisive moment.
August 3rd, 2000
Mother One, Black Forest, Germany
"Pierre, what are you up to now?" Eva Johannes was feeling tired from her work on the weapons department. The trip to Area 51 had calmed her consciousness about developing the advanced weapons that would equip the new fighters being developed at that facility, but that didn't do much in reducing her workload. She had come to the Elerium test reactor to perform some experiments regarding the regulation of plasma fluxes, only to find out that the French scientist had taken into monopolizing the use of the engine.
Lejeune didn't even look up from the monitors that showed the state of the matter-antimatter taking place inside the large cylinder located on an adjacent room. "This might take a while before I finish Eva".
She moved from the door to his side. "I know! I've checked the assignments: there isn't a single day available this week or the next for anyone else besides you to perform any experiments. Does Dr. Chevereux know about this?"
He dropped his head and swiveled on his chair to face her. "He's too busy to take notice of such matters. How much time do you need?"
"One or two hours to make some verifications". He got up from his chair and went to a water machine at a corner of the room. She sat down on the chair. "What are you doing that is so important?"
He filled a paper cup and swallowed its contents in a single gulp and passed his left hand over his hair. "I'm trying to find out how the Elerium is used for faster than light travel by the aliens". She stopped. "Don't tell me you are going for the Nobel or something like that. That research has been postponed indefinitely by Dr. Chevereux, although he regrets it. First we need to defeat the aliens here".
"Relax Eva, I'm not trying to discover it all at once. But I've come up with some interesting results that might indicate the basic principles, although how they are doing it's a completely different matter". She kept looking at him, waiting for him to continue. "OK, how much do you still believe in Einstein's relativity theory?"
She became puzzled. The question was a sort of a joke between every X-Com scientists, since the research they had done so far had shown a lot of practical holes into what was considered one of mankind's best scientists. "Why are you asking?"
"We have determined that the Elerium reactors release Cherenkov radiation, from ever since that incident". She nodded. The Elerium engines placed on the UFOs were shielded to contain radiation, but the shielding of the one at Mother One had less containment. The matter-antimatter reaction released various forms of radiation, including the plasma used for the alien weapons. But during one of the experiments a flask containing a liquid had been forgotten inside the chamber, standing close to the uncovered blast window. As soon as the reactor was activated it had started to glow blue, indicating Cherenkov radiation. The phenomenon was common in with used uranium and plutonium conventional nuclear rods. After the fuel on the rods had been spent, they would be taken out of the reactor core and left in a water pool to literally 'cool down' its powerful and deathly radiation and heat. The rods emitted high-energy particles such as neutrons and as they passed through the water they would release some of their energy, resulting in a blue glow coming from the cooling pools. The radiation was named Cherenkov, in the name of its discoverer. It also made everyone present in the lab almost panic, since it meant that they were also being bombarded by nuclear radiation. Fortunately the medical examinations had shown that their bodies hadn't absorbed any harmful doses.
"A few months afterwards I found myself wondering from where that radiation was coming from. The breakdown of E-115 isn't a fission reaction, as we know. However, the levels of emission of known nuclear particles allow us to use it to generate and contain plasma. But the most part breaks down into the generation of the gravitic fields. Could the Cherenkov be coming from them?"
She thought for a second but the answer came quickly to her. "The old question about the graviton. We simply don't have a way to determine if gravity is composed of particles".
"Right. We know how to manipulate the gravity fields and use them to lift a craft, but we just don't know what exactly makes it. What I've tried to do is to see if the unknown force behind the Cherenkov could be a concrete proof of the existence of gravitons".
"But what does that have to do with faster than light travel? You think the aliens key to interstellar travel relies on the gravitic particles?"
"I don't know yet, but my results have shown that there is something out there emitting that reaction. There's a supercooled liquid hydrogen unit on one of the labs, and I've found out that when the reactor is operating, something travels all the way from this section of the base to there and as it crosses it, there's a residual release of Cherenkov radiation".
Johannes looked at the reactor: between here and the other labs there was enough shielding to prevent that any known particles traveled that distance without being stopped or absorbed. "I think I'm starting to see what you are talking about", she said in a whisper.
"However, I don't know for sure yet, but I think it might not be the gravitons or something else, like neutrinos. Of the developments of Einstein's special relativity theory theorizes about the possibility of a particle that could move over light speed in the vacuum and that as it increases its speed it actually releases more energy, the same that we are seeing here with the Cherenkov being emitted".
"You're talking about tachyons". She concluded, thinking about the implications of such a discovery. "You might be into something here Pierre. You better get this online the Ufopedia".
"I will, as soon as you finish over there. What are you up to these days?"
She kept tapping commands into the computer. "Finishing something. The aliens are going to have quite a surprise in the next weeks".
September 4th, 2001
Complex YY-18, Japan
Colonel Yamashita and Councilman Tamako were standing on the middle of the command room from where all UFO intrusions were monitored and subsequent interceptions launched from the inside of the X-Com base. They had been waiting for some hours now until a proper contact would be made for the first operational deployment into combat of their new weapon.
The blueprints for the new craft had been received from Area 51 a month ago, after the X-Com research personnel at that facility had finished testing the crude prototype that they had been built. From since then the engineers had been working almost non-stop into putting the plans into reality, using the materials being flown to Complex YY-18 from a major airlift coming from a number of X-Com bases around the world. The former Sony and Toyota engineers had been successful: a circular shaped craft now rested in one's of the base's hangar, with its pilot inside, ready for an interception. But they didn't want to take one of the slower UFOs. Instead, Commander Illyuschenko had ordered that the interceptor should be used in trying to bring down the elusive alien craft that flew too high and too fast for the F-22s to catch.
Two contacts had already been detected that morning, one of a scout sized craft heading for the Korean Peninsula and now a larger UFO on its way to the Yangtzee river valley in China. Yamashita had scrambled one of the interceptors against the smaller contact but had to let the larger UFO reach its destination, since he had strict orders for his planes to avoid Chinese airspace to prevent any incidents from happening.
Then suddenly a red contact made itself visible on the upper section of the massive computer generated image that they were looking at, showing parts of Mainland China, the Korean Peninsula and the Japanese Islands. "Colonel, radar shows a large scout type UFO, speed over Mach Five, altitude fifty thousand plus, probably heading for the Philippines or Indonesia. They will overfly Okinawa in ten minutes". The officer in charge of the air defense center shouted.
Yamashita looked at Tamako but the man simply reached for a pocket in the front of his suit and took out a golden cigarette case. "Feed the coordinates to Firestorm One and order it to launch immediately". The officer nodded and reached for the nearest radio.
"Now we shall see if all the money and effort we put into this thing will work out". He spoke to the councilman, who seemed to be busier trying to get his lighter to function. When he finally got it working he lighted the completely white cigarette and took a deep drag, only bothering to answer afterwards. "You have doubts Colonel?"
"No councilman, but if I was the aliens this would sure get my attention if we succeed".
Over the Sea of Japan, hundred miles south of Okinawa
Captain Yanida was having the ride of his life, some thirty thousand feet above sea level and still ascending at what looked to him an impossible climbing rate. His speed was over Mach five and still increasing, something that went against any notions he had learned about manned flight. In a conventional flight that speed would have pressed him against the pilot's seat by the multiple g's we would be pushing, but no effect of the acceleration was felt on the inside of the craft.
Yanida was seated a conventional pilot chair, fully equipped with an emergency parachute that would sent him downwards and through a opening on the bottom of the craft that would open if he had to bail out. But that was the only thing in common with the F-22s he was used to pilot. He had entered the Firestorm through a ladder on the bottom of the craft and went he looked around he wondered what the people who had designed the cockpit were thinking of. The Firestorm had about some ten feet in diameter and its interior was divided into two sections, a smaller one that housed the pilot and the navigational equipment, while the Elerium engine and plasma beam weapons where on the back. Besides the seat, there was only a console in front of him, from where a liquid crystal display unit came, large enough to fill the pilot's visual camp. That was the only contact with the reality outside that he had. The advanced computer in front of him would project a compressed image of the view in front of the craft, or of any direction the pilot required, through the push of a button on the console.
And there were no control and speed sticks, something that made Yanida feel very weird. He had a helmet placed upon his head that would detect the movements made by his hands and arms and correspondingly direct the craft. A push forward with his left hand close and he would accelerate the Firestorm. The same motion backwards with the hand balled into a fist and he would reduce the motion. Movements to the sides and up and down would move the craft into that direction. And for firing he only would have to point to the target with his eyes and ball his right hand into a fist, while pressing the thumb.
The flight engineers had explained that the Firestorms would act more like a spacecraft, since Earth's gravity would be nullified by the anti-gravity waved generated by the Elerium engine as it responded to the pilot's commands. The only operational restrains were caused by Earth's atmosphere since the interaction of the oxygen and nitrogen molecules in the air with the gravitic field would increase in a geometric proportion with the speed and after a while be enough to cause a massive turbulence that could sent the craft out of control.
Someone at the briefings had asked about the possibility of taking the Firestorm out of the atmosphere and how it would react over there, since the vacuum of space would take out that restrain. At that point the Colonel had merely jumped into the briefing and explained, that while it was theoretically possible, the craft's limited range could leave the pilot stranded in Earth's orbit. "And if you ever get back, when me and Commander Illyuschenko are done with you, you will wish you haven't gotten back".
But that wasn't on Yanida's intentions. Being the top fighter pilot at Complex YY-18 and showing the most promising results in the computer simulations he had went through in his training about the man-built UFO, he had been the one chosen for this interception. The first aerospatial interception! And using an UFO similar to the aliens!
His radio cracked open. "Firestorm Zero-One, your range to the target is seventy miles. Weapons are free. I repeat weapons are free. You're authorized to engage the target. The Colonel wishes you good luck".
"Transmission received, beginning attack". The computer-generated image in front of him changed itself to give him more information about the target. A number of possible attack patterns suggested by the machine appeared on the left side of the display, together with estimations of the probability of success to hit with the plasma cannons using each maneuver. Yanida went for the straight course for its target, since the UFO was lightly armed and the Firestorm was well out of range of its weapons.
More than a seventy kilometers away from the location of the Firestorm, a flight of F-8II Finback Chinese fighter planes was on their way to head back to their base after being deployed to cover the approach of the UFO who was now about to land in Western China. The leader of the formation had wondered why the air controller had ordered them to stand in their stations as long as possible. That was until he had seen the luminous path carved on Earth's atmosphere as the Firestorm streaked towards its target, a small bright light set upon the light blue horizon made by the ionized atoms as they collided with the anti-gravity field that seemed to be moving at an impossible speed for the planes under his formation to follow.
He wondered what was High Command's interest in the flight path of this particular UFO, since it seemed that the craft was bound to space. But knowing it better not to ask many questions, he just hung there as much as possible although the status of his fuel tanks was almost bingo, meaning that soon he would have to turn back.
Unaware of the Chinese planes, the Firestorm kept racing upwards, with Yanida making small corrections on its flight path to match the UFO's course. When the range approached 52 kilometers, a small whining noise suddenly started to be heard in his ear receivers, telling him that he had reached maximum range for the plasma beam cannons.
Putting both his hands into fists, he pointed forward with his index fingers to arm the cannons. On both sides of the craft and above him, the openings on the fuselage for the weapons opened, revealing the nozzle of the barrels fed by the Elerium engine. He was unconsciously waiting that it would increase his atmospheric drag and reduce his speed, but the anti-gravity field kept most of the air from contacting with the fuselage, which surprised him as the Firestorm kept smoothly on its path.
Locking the gun sight projected on the display, he pressed with his right thumb on his hand and then waited three seconds before doing the same with his left one. Above him, the a flux of ionized particles coming from the matter-antimatter reaction on Elerium engine was compressed by electromagnetic fields and projected forwards by the right plasma cannon at several times the speed of sound, followed by a similar blast. "Banzai! Banzai!" He shouted into the radio.
As the tight ions traveled through atmosphere in a ball of fire, the ions on the outside collided with the atoms present on the atmosphere and a part of the small energy lost in that reaction consisted of excited photons in a wavelength that gave the plasma its green color. For the Celtic cross type UFO it didn't matter if the beam was green or any color. The first blast shot closely, missing the craft, but the second one hit it right on the behind arm, close to where it linked to the engine room.
As Yanida watched the results of his double volley, he grimaced as he watched his first shot miss but when the second hit, he nearly jumped on his chair. "Base, I've hit it! Getting ready for a second shot!" His eyes flickered to the counter on the left which shown his weapon status waiting for the red "CHARGING" sign to turn into the more friendlier green "READY". But something caught his attention and he quickly turned his vision back to the UFO.
The second plasma blast had cut through the bottom of the Scout and reached the engine, detonating the Elerium that powered the craft and engulfing the UFO on a massive explosion. The aliens inside the room were simply vaporized, unaware of what had happened to them. The force of the detonation overcome the tensional limits of the alien alloys that made the fuselage and the craft broke in the middle, sending each arm spinning to different directions as they fell down towards the Pacific Ocean.
Complex YY-18, Japan
Colonel Yamashita and Councilman Tamako had their eyes completely fixed on the main display, trying to understand what was going on, when a call came that was heard into the entire room through the main speakers. "Base, this is Firestorm Zero-One. UFO is down! I repeat: UFO is down!"
The two troopers standing outside the command center's doors suddenly heard loud cheering and hands clapping and looked at one another, wondering what had just happened. On the inside, the Councilman fished another cigarette, but before lightening it turned to Yamashita and bowed. "Colonel, on the behalf of the Council please send my congratulations for the pilot and also to Commander Illyuschenko and all of his research personnel. I must say I am most pleased with these results".
Yamashita gave him a short bow. "I shall do so. We will start full production of these craft as soon as possible. The aliens will now pay dearly if they try to overfly our country".
"I shall require estimates of the output of the production line here to present to the Council. They will be satisfied but they will also demand that the Firestorms be deployed as possible to protect their own airspace. There will be some major fighting inside the Council but we have spent our energies well. While all the research might be done in the West, we now have something priceless in Japanese soil: the factory that is building the craft to take the UFOs in equal terms". Tamako paused and looked at the ceiling, lost in a sea of thoughts.
"Exactly what the Kiryu-Kai needed but we couldn't give them. Japan has greatly enhanced his position by joining X-Com". The councilman looked back at Yamashita with a grave expression. "Defend this base and the islands well Colonel. Use any possible means to prevent that the aliens ever manage to hinder our efforts here or all will be lost".
"Like before, now it's only a question of money Councilman. Between the new base defenses we have planned and the Firestorm, any alien craft will be destroyed if they try to strike at us. We only need the necessary funds".
"Indeed and Commander Illyuschenko now has an extra bargaining chip to present in the next Council meeting. He will use it well, I expect, like always". He paused for a minute before taking a step closer to Illyuschenko and bringing his voice down. "In any case, you shall continue our own arrangement. There's no doubt that this will benefit both of us". Yamashita nodded. "Hai".
Over the Sea of Japan
Beside Yanida's, another pair of human eyes had witnessed the shoot down of the alien craft. The leader of the flight of Chinese fighters had ordered the other planes on his formation to return back to the base after having decided that there must be something special about this UFO that made High Command so interested on it. He had kept his F-8 Finback fighter in station as long as he could, disregarding fuel safety margins. If he was wrong in asserting the importance of what he had just filmed, the decision would cost him his career and most likely his life. A court martial would surely follow together with a death sentence. However, his gun camera had captured the flight of the mysterious UFO and the moment when it had discharged its weapons. He was now trying to get to the Chinese mainland and asking the radio controller for an alternate-landing runway before his fuel run out and he would be forced to eject from his jet plane. He had no intention of bailing out in a parachute over the Pacific where there was a good chance that he would never be found.
September 10th, 2000
Lhassa, Tibet Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
The former Buddhist monastery on the outskirts of Lhassa had been taken over by the Chinese Army for more than forty years, during the time of the occupation of Tibet. The military hadn't bothered to change the outside of the building, only taking the effort to do some small maintenance. It wasn't one of the largest monasteries that used to house the monks that composed Tibet's theocracy. However, its six stories made an impression on who saw them, standing erect with pointed towers against the bright blue sky, the yellow and the red of its walls still retaining some of the strong colors it once possessed.
But Colonel Chen wasn't impressed neither by the monastery nor by Lhassa itself. He had flown all the way from Beijing to the provincial capital to meet with the alien liaison to the People's Republic. He wished that the man, or to be more correct, that the alien had decided to settle in Beijing instead, like any normal ambassador would do so. Instead he had specifically required to be installed in a remote area and more specifically in Tibet. Unwilling to antagonize their new allies, the Politburo had agreed with the request, making Chen to travel all the way to Lhassa once in a while since he also required that all contacts be made personal.
The limousine crossed the military checkpoint at the monastery's perimeter after the soldiers checked Chen's credentials. It was hardly necessary since no one else was allowed inside the old building. And that included any humans: the alien had claimed that it needed no support personnel and only a regular set of food and other normal supplies to be delivered on a personal basis. That also irritated Chen since it meant that he couldn't fill the house with undercover agents disguised as servants to determine what the ambassador was up to.
The car stopped at the front of the building, next to a stairway that led into a covered balcony. After Chen had gotten off, the driver closed the passenger door and went back to his seat, driving the limousine away. A figure robed in yellow and red tunics was waiting for him and Chen froze in puzzlement and irritation wondering how the idiots in the gate had ever allowed one of the damn monks to get inside the place. Only he noticed then that it was the ambassador, dressed as one of those Tibetans that was waiting for him. He moved up the steps.
"Good afternoon General. I hope your flight was pleasant". The envoy greeted him with a bow and extended one of his sickly white hands from the covers of the tunic he was wearing. Chen only grabbed it for a second before taking his own hand away. He only spoke "Ambassador" trying to avoid the alien's violet eyes that seemed to pierce him. For Chen the creature in front of him was a perverty, a mixture of alien and human DNA that made him sick. While overall it could be seen as human, it had a color that made it look more like an albino and had no facial hair at all. He looked instead at the ropes he was wearing.
"Do you like my new garments? I thought it might draw less attention to me here if I dressed as one of the former occupants of this holy place". Chen tried to hide his disgust and wondered if the alien knew something about recent Tibetan history. "A bit archaic perhaps, but my superiors have matters of great concern that they wish to transmit to your masters".
"Very well. Please do come inside". He took out his arm from the tunic and waved Chen inside. After refusing an offer of tea they both seated in a large room, where ceramic bowls were spread around, holding incense burning. There were no chairs, so they both had to seat cross-legged on cushions placed on the wooden floor.
"Ambassador, my superiors are concerned. They are thinking that the Hierarchy is taking too long to fulfill their part of the agreement, specially relating to the sharing of data between our two nations". The alien sipped some tea before answering. "We aren't aware that there was a precise time table to fulfill. Have we not started the transmission of that some data to your scientists?"
"Yes, but the information is extremely scarce and difficult to understand, according to them. Moreover it deals with subjects related to food production or genetics. There is nothing about…." Chen tried to not mention the subject directly. "…your energy sources or the materials used on the construction of your craft".
The envoy set down his bowl of tea. "We understood that your nation would have more urgent needs to deal with, namely food production and controlling your population. Moreover, your scientists understanding of our science is still very incomplete and the matters you have brought up upon us are very demanding. You can't run until you've learned to walk General".
"Ambassador, we are surrounded by common enemies. I have brought with me images taken by one of our planes of a new type of craft developed by X-Com. It's similar to the ones your people use and we are defenseless against it. We need that information". Chen tried to keep his anger from showing.
"You are defenseless you say? So far your nation's boundaries haven't been crossed by any of your enemies. Our craft has helped your military forces. Do you call that defenseless?"
"My superiors consider that they have given a great assistance to the Hierarchy. You have been given permission to overfly our territory and perform your activities unhindered".
The hybrid stirred on his position. "Are you saying to us that you want to forgave our agreement?"
"Call it a matter of trust, Ambassador. Allies should trust one another without anything that might cast a shadow of doubt between them". Here let him eat that one, Chen told to himself.
By the response of the hybrid it didn't seemed as if he worried a single bit. "Indeed. I shall relay the concerns of your government to my kind. However there is something that might be done to improve the current situation and clear the shadows that are troubling your government, since you seem so worried about being left defenseless…". When the conversation was over and Chen left the building he wasn't sure of who had benefited more with the outcome. However, the Politburo now had to make some serious decisions on matters that they had managed to avoid so far.
September 31st, 2000
Geneva, Switzerland
In his role as the acting chairman of the Council of Funding Nations, the UN's Secretary-General had the role of defining the agenda for the monthly sessions, which would be later voted and approved by the members, leading the discussions and ensuring that the voting procedure was conducted properly. It also made him nothing more than a mere secretary in any discussion regarding X-Com's performance. His influence was restrained to outside the doors of the amphitheater, were he would talk and negotiate with each nation individually, besides endorsing or reproving Commander Illyuschenko's actions. But even in that matters he would try to look as neutral as possible since he was sometimes the only bridge existent between the military force's commanders and the Council.
Today's session was only proving to Bomaka how small his role was in the whole affair. By the nature of his position he was constrained in the statements that he could possibly make, under the threat of being completely dismissed by the councilmen inside. And in this particular meeting it seemed that every one of them was more and more egotistical into their particular demands. And as usual, Illyuschenko's personality and attitude wasn't helping.
The day had been long but it seemed to be about to end, with only two more nations to go before they could finish the session. Right now X-Com's subcommander for air operations, a French Colonel named Paqua was replying to the queries made by the Canadian councilman regarding the new X-Com craft that was being developed. The success of the Firestorm had brought many interventions of praise by the part of the Council but some of the nations were questioning the necessity of the new craft that Illyuschenko had proposed to them.
"To conclude, the new Fighter-Transporter will allow us to supplement our current Skyranger capabilities. We will be able to use it to shoot down up to medium-sized UFOs and to deploy immediately a platoon of troops to assault it. The speed of this craft will also allow us to quickly respond to any attack that the aliens decide to perform". Bomaka laid down on his chair, only barely paying attention to the discussion. He was not capable of fully understanding X-Com's operational needs and left that to Illyuschenko and his staff. "As for the Heavy Fighter, we are seriously doubting the abilities of the Firestorm to deal with the very large types of UFOs. The new Fusion missiles, developed after a similar alien weapon, will further enhance the capabilities of Firestorms. However, they will still dwarves compared to the alien Battleships. Finally, both that craft and the Heavy Transport will allow us to have fully aerospatial ability, allowing us to engage UFOs in Earth's orbit. We presently don't possess such a capability, because of the Firestorm's operational constraints. This last craft will also allow us to deploy a short company of troops very quickly anywhere on Earth".
"We still maintain our reservations about the last two projects, Colonel: they seem a waste of money that would be more wisely spent in Firestorm production. From your reports it seems that the aliens hardly use any of their Battleships in their activities on Earth, while we don't understand the use of the Heavy Transport. X-Com's regional commands were designed to ensure that each geographical area could properly defend itself against the alien threat. Your concerns should be more local, not in how to engage the UFOs in space were they don't threaten anyone".
That brought somewhat hot response from Illyuschenko and Bomaka agreed with him. However the facts were that every one of the fourteen councilmen would be more interested in taking care of their own defense first. When the whole argument was finished, and the Canadian councilman finished speaking and sat down, Bomaka merely nodded as the next speaker on the list looked at him. "In concordance to what has been stated by my South African colleague, Egypt also wants to make a strong case on the failure of X-Com to reduce the number of UFO activity emanating from Nigeria. One should think if the Congo base's commander isn't simply incompetent for this position. His order for his team to dust-off when they tried to assault one UFO two weeks ago in Sudan merely shows is cowardliness".
Looking at Illyuschenko, Bomaka already knew his reaction. "Mr. Councilman, as I pointed to the South Africa representative, besides staging a coup d'etat in Nigeria or mounting a full invasion there isn't much more we can do about the fact that they have joined the alien's side. We are running a number of covert operations to retrieve UFO crashes inside their borders but that's about what we can do. And for Colonel Waartens's decision, he fully has my support: the UFO type that they encountered was a Harvester, with more than twenty fully armed Mutons. We were only expecting one of their large scouts, according to the radar information you gave to us. Moreover, the X-Com team on the scene consisted only of a combat platoon. The fact that Waartens realized that to remain in the area was suicide, after losing more than half of his soldiers showed that he took the right decision, otherwise we would have lost the entire team!"
The Egyptian councilman merely replied. "Commander, our objections still remain. As such, we won't further increase our contribution, like South Africa, until we see more positive gestures on X-Com's part to upgrade Africa's defenses".
"Mr. Aziz", Bomaka intervened, "what do you propose?" The short stubby Egyptian wanted something, he could tell.
"We have examined the current Firestorm production and deployment proposal submitted by Commander Illyuschenko's staff. It is completely unacceptable that Congo base shall only receive the first craft after the end of the present year while Europe will have a full flight available by that time". Back to leaving Illyuschenko to decide on the matter.
The Russian looked at a sheet that an aide quickly presented to him. "Mr. Councilman, you must have misunderstood our proposal. Mother One will only be housing a full flight by the second quarter of next year".
"I mean Mother One and Stalingrad bases together, Commander! Europe already has a sophisticated air defense network while Africa simply doesn't have the financial resources after decades of Western colonization. And we are seeing the same happening here: The so-called first world is getting the best out of the money everyone is putting into this force". Bomaka wished that the Egyptian hadn't brought into discussion that sensible point. He could see that the argument had struck a point in some of the other nations while the majority of the European countries seemed to look in suspicion. Things were looking ugly.
Illyuschenko looked adamant on his pose. "My operational plans stand. In case you haven't noticed Mr. Aziz, the Firestorm's range and speed more than assures that any UFO threat over your country can be dealt rapidly".
The Egyptian councilman turned his attention from him and looked at Bomaka. "Mr. Chairman I would like to ask for a vote of no-confidence on Commander Illyuschenko". The Secretary-General could see it coming before he had spoken. The day had been long and it would end after the voting process was done. Better to finish it quick. "Very well. Since there's no more interventions scheduled and each country has already announced his financial contributions for next month, shall we call the vote and end this session?"
To his surprise, the Indian councilman got up from his chair and asked permission to speak. Bomaka conceded it and he started. "Before we vote, there's another matter that should be discussed that might have some influence". That raised a couple of eyebrows in the room and shifting on the chairs but Bomaka could see that they were all in the table that he and the X-Com party were occupying. "Councilman Singh, this isn't in the agenda".
"I know, Mr. Secretary, but the information I'm about to present couldn't be presented sooner. However, I'm sure that all of my colleagues will approve of the inclusion in today's session". Seeing how no one raised any objection, Bomaka now knew that it hadn't been proposed before on purpose. Illyuschenko looked at him with a questioning look but he had to approve it.
Singh then presented a CD-ROM disk to the table with information relevant to the question. The disk was introduced and soon appeared the sign of India's counter-intelligence agency. "As you know, during the past year there has been a number of border incidents in my country's Kashmir area, which borders Pakistan, together with a number of guerrilla groups that are operating in the area".
"We are working to surpress the terrorist activity developed by these fanatics but a number of small-scale engagements and bombings have occurred, together with the assassination of local politicians in the area. While all of this is hardly new, we have detected a number of indications that show that the terrorists are using some sort of high technology weapon. Our indications showed that they might had somewhat gained access to a downed UFO. But until now we only had circunstancial evidence".
He ordered for the CD's contents to be presented. "Until now". A photograph of a rifle appeared projected on the wall. It was all of a metal gray, with a large circular barrel. There was a power cable coming out from the stock that attached itself to a small rectangular unit.
Bomaka felt that Illyuschenko had nearly jumped on his chair but as he looked to check, the X-Com commander kept his eyes square on the picture.
Looking at everyone in the room, he continued. "In one of our operation we finally captured this. This seems to be a laser weapon, gentlemen. A laser weapon made on Earth!" Singh turned to Illyuschenko now and Bomaka could see that they were about to entrap him. "We were told that X-Com's data regarding weapons was put under a tight security. Would you care to explain this to us Commander?"
Illyuschenko looked back at him very carefully studying his answer before replying. "X-Com's scientific data is secure". The answer puzzled Bomaka: unless any nation had developed laser weapons by itself, there was no other way for the rifle in the back of him to have been manufactured unless there had been an unauthorized access to X-Com's data files. Unless there was someone inside X-Com supplying them!
Singh and Illyuschenko had locked themselves into some sort of mental fight. "Yes, we don't believe that such an intrusion had occurred. However, we have exchanged information with other nation's intelligence services: it seems that a number of devices like this one have been seen in a number of worldwide conflicts. Apparently there is someone in the possession of a cache of such weapons and selling them in the illegal arms trade market".
"Are you suggesting it is X-Com, Councilman? We don't use that kind of junk: just by the look of it, anyone familiar with our weapons can tell that, technically, they are much more advanced. Just look at the size of that power unit!" Singh just smiled and looked back at Bomaka. "Mr. Secretary, may I propose that we adjourn the rest of this meeting for tomorrow? It's very late already and I believe this whole matter should have enough time to be fully investigated".
Another councilman seconded the motion and Bomaka made the preposition. Like the unexpected statement by Singh, it was approved unanimously. He dismissed the councilmen and seeing them leave, couldn't stop thinking what they had in mind.
Later in the evening, after they all had had dinner and were about to retire for the night, Bomaka watched as a member of the Indian delegation approached Illyuschenko, who seemed about to fulminate him with his glare and spoke to him for a couple of minutes. Watching both men departure from the dining room afterwards, he couldn't stop wonder what surprises would tomorrow bring to him.
The meeting room chosen by the Indian councilman was sparse in furniture, having barely more than two chairs and a low level table where a crystal flask was set upon, containing a gold liquid inside and two glasses, together with a bowl of ice and a bottle of mineral water.
When the X-Com Commander entered the room he paused to look around and check the surroundings before sitting in front of Singh. The Indian man offered him a drink, which he was quick to refuse, having already tasted the other man's poison. Helping himself of a whisky on the rocks, Singh started the conversation afterwards.
"You must be wondering the whole motive behind all of this Commander. Well, the whole matter of the retrieved laser weapons is a cause of great concern to some nations in the Council. They have chosen me to present our point to you, so that you can understand your position".
Illyuschenko kept his mouth quiet and Singh took it as a sign to continue.
"Now Commander, you don't have to be a fully trainer accountant to know that X-Com can't possibly obtain all the financing it needs from the Council's contributions. You have seven bases spread all over the globe, plus a number of secondary facilities deployed to detect any signs of alien activity.
NASA and the European Space Agency are making a huge profit out of your contracts to launch your own fleet of satellites. Overall your forces employ directly several thousands of men and women, all of them fully skilled and trained: soldiers, scientists, engineers, physicians, intelligence personnel, all of them well paid and with a lot of benefits.
And to that number one should also add the costs of running a large fleet of advanced aircraft such as the Skyrangers and the F-22's and the money you pay each month for their lease. Plus the quantities paid to use scientific facilities, etc. Shall I continue?"
"What's your point Councilman? Aren't I doing the job that I was assigned to?"
"Yes, but from my country's own calculations, more than half of the funding required to maintain your force is coming from unknown sources, if not more since we don't know the full scope of your operations since it's classified".
Putting down his glass, he leaned forward. "General, if this was a public operation you would have been arrested by now for suspicions of money laundering, illegal arms dealing and a number of other offenses that would warrant you a lifetime in jail. It would unacceptable that the commander of Earth's defenses would be also be engaged in criminal activities to support it".
Illyuschenko wasn't impressed. "Do you have proof of anything that you are saying?"
"Nothing in concrete, besides the recovered laser weapon that we have managed to retrieve. But I'd guess that if someone conducted a full audit into X-Com's finances that some very peculiar book-keeping would be found".
"You can't do that. The Charter specifically states that to maintain operational security all of our records, including the financial ones, can't be accessed without a unanimous decision from the Council. If that information were ever compromised, the enemy's would know everything about the operation. It is what saved us when China and Nigeria defected".
Singh shook his baldhead. "Do you think we aren't considering it back there? Wake up Commander! Right now a lot of countries are feeling nervous that laser weaponry has found its way into the black market. Although there isn't anything to trace it back to X-Com besides the fact that you're the only known force to develop and manufacture such weapons, we all know from where it has come from, even if it isn't one of your latest designs. However, a lot of us is worried that if these weapons are out in the open, who knows what else you might be selling around to finance this war".
"So why are we talking here? Why don't you arrest me?" He leaned back on the chair. "And find someone who can keep the force together at the level I've managed to replace me".
"You are missing the point Commander. But I guess that's because you are from the military: it's no wonder that you should stay away from politics, since you perceive anything against you as threats".
"We both agree with that, Councilman. I have no patience for this sort of games. If you had given me the money I need all instead of bickering the whole time about the insufficient protection you are getting, I could concentrate more in the war".
"As for that matter, I'm sorry to say that X-Com won't get a penny more on this meeting".
He jumped out of his chair and pointed at the man. "What's this then? You're not happy with having me; you all want X-Com also? You might as well get a gun and shoot yourselves in the head!"
"Commander, please seat down!" For some seconds both men stood staring each other in the eyes, not daring to back off before the other one did.
Without unlocking his gaze, the Indian councilman simply spoke: "I've been here to find a solution for all of this, without the need of a vote of no-confidence or a change in the charter, believe me or not.
In any case, like I said before, you think too much in military terms, where there's a victor and a defeated. If you keep going on like that, it's clear who will suffer defeat. However, in politics there are other ways".
That struck a chord inside Illyuschenko and he realized how hot-tempered he was. Taking a deep breath he sat down again on the chair. "I'm listening".
"Good". He took out a handkerchief from the chest pocket of his suit and used it to clean the sweat off his forehead. "To be honest, we are not interested in disbanding X-Com. At least for now. With the announcement made some months ago recognizing the existence of the aliens there is pressure for us to present solutions for the matter. If you all went back into normal society the word would leak out about you and we might be risking a situation of hysteria if it was known that such a crisis we had failed to coordinate efforts and to deal with the crisis. It would be bad enough if it was known about China and Nigeria".
"So you can't live without us. What else has changed from the beginning?"
"The descriptions of the data that you have recovered from investigating the aliens are quite disturbing. First of all, have you ever sold any data or Elerium powered equipment?"
"No. I would have been foolish and insane. Laser weapons are no much different from the general weaponry now available. They have a bit more power and range but they don't make such a difference on the battlefield".
"That is precisely the conclusion that we have come up to. And some of your research is perfectly innocuous and won't change the world from one day to the other if it's released: laser weapons, motion scanners, even alien alloys. But the Elerium is a completely different matter".
Puzzlement went through Illyuschenko's mind. "Where are you trying to get at?"
"Right now it isn't possible for change a single dot in the Charter so that X-Com could open its research upon these subjects. We have already discussed it between ourselves in closed doors and we found out that we can't reach an agreement on even how to word it. It would have to be something too vague to allow for further harmless investigation to be released and even so some of it could be used into weapons of mass destruction, such as the biological aspects".
"There is no good and bad science: there are only good and bad men who employ it".
"A crude analogy but a correct one. No one here is truly willing to trust the other in that matter. We have seen what happened with the development of nuclear power after World War II. And we see the Elerium as posing exactly the same problem: no one is willing to part with it but each country wouldn't want for its neighbor to have it while they don't".
"For us military it's better if you keep it simple, Councilman. What are you proposing?"
"Basically that you keep your own arms deal that you are conducting but that now you also make it available to each country individually, excluding the ones that aren't a part of the Council. It's bad already that we are being left behind in technological terms concerning the aliens: we can't also be inferior to your buyers. That will also allow us to train forces with the laser weapons and, if necessary present them to the public to assure them that we are working on the matter".
"Wouldn't it be simpler to just announce the existence of X-Com?"
"No. It would be a hell of a political mess right now. One that you'd find yourself stuck up to your neck".
"We keep all the research still with us?"
"Yes. Each country is still free to conduct their own scientific investigations as it was before".
"And what about the research on Elerium?"
"You will be the only one allowed, as long as you are able to maintain the secret, while the rest of us are banned. We might make an amendment to the Charter specifically stating it, since it won't be in contradiction with the spirit of the treaty. The knowledge you have is too disestablishing right now and you're the only organization that we can trust, since you have managed to contain it for more than two years now. We are willing to maintain the confidence in X-Com".
"This sounds like a deal made out of hell, Councilman. Do you realize that your countries are about to secretly do the same illegal business that you have accused me in the open?"
The man gave a short laugh. "Keep yourself in the military world Commander. You are too naïve to be a politician".
"Agreed. But I don't understand why the reason of all of this".
"More than anyone else in the world, in the end we care about our own survival. Right now, from what you've shown we are more than convinced that you're the only one that can assure us of that. But don't fail us Commander or you will be quickly found left hung out to dry in the open. The whole purpose of my meeting with you was to make sure that you understood it".
December 17th, 2000
CIA Headquarters, Langley, Virginia, US
As Major MacAllister walked into his office, Williams got up from his desk to greet him, both men shaking their hands before seating down. It had been a while since he had seen the DIA officer and apparently some changes had happened: MacAllister seemed to be more reserved, still tucked into his uniform but not showing the same openness that they had shared before. The initial assessment group put together by the former Director of Central Intelligence had long split, shortly after X-Com had been formed. Pharris and Davis had left to join X-Com while he remained in Langley and MacAllister was assigned to the Pentagon to Planning and Operations. To Williams knowledge they were busy gathering all available information regarding the aliens and X-Com's tactics to prepare the US military in case they ever had to deal directly with the extraterrestrials.
Looking around the office, MacAllister smiled afterwards. "It's been a while since I've been here". Looking at the picture of Williams with his wife, Betty and their two kids he smiled and asked: "How are they doing?"
"Great. David keeps on asking me a lot of questions about the aliens while Anne is now at kindergarten. And Betty has gone back to college: she's working for a Masters now". Seeing his friend nod back in approval, he asked: "And how are you doing Mac? You haven't returned any of my calls for a while until two days ago. Is this just to wish me a merry Christmas?"
MacAllister made an uncomfortable face, which made Williams concerned. The other man clearly wasn't at ease with something. "Yeah, let's just say that I felt it better if I could have a word with you to let you know of some things".
"I'm all hears Mac. Is it something about Paula? Are you guys OK?"
"No, we're fine also but thanks for asking". He looked up in the air. "How can I put it? Let's just say that this is more of a professional matter".
"I see…Something to do with our work?"
"Something that could affect your work. It has already changed mine".
"Mac, stop beating around the bush". The Major tried to smile. "Well I take that you have listened to the main topic of the news lately".
Williams thought for a moment, mentally sorting through the stories that had caught the media's attention lately. "You mean the presidential election?" Seeing in nodding in agreement, he felt curious of why he was mentioning it. "What's so special? Longstreet conceded to Vaughn after the federal court stopped the vote recount. I think he did the right thing so that the nation doesn't think that Vaughn was the wrong winner. I'd prefer Longstreet to replace Winston but now it's past and we need to focus on the alien threat. The rest is all technicalities of our election system to be discussed along the political scientists. Why did you wanted to talk to me about this?"
"Well, as you know my function right now is up at the Pentagon. And when I got there I saw some things that I wasn't expecting. A lot of the officers with whom I'm working right now are turning more and more critical of the whole strategy designed to deal with the aliens, particularly when we seen all of the blaming on the television that the military isn't doing anything to help".
"We've seen that kind of criticism before, Mac. I'd be also complaining if I was forced to sit and watch and not being able to speak while others do our work".
"Terry, I know what you are saying but things are changing". He made a serious face and looked around. "Some time ago we were ordered to dust off and review the main operations plan that was conceived before X-Com's creating. Now this is something regularly done, in order to update it with the latest information gathered by the CIA and X-Com".
Williams scratched his chin. "So?"
"I can't tell you any details but it seems that there might be a major change of policy. And now with the confirmation that Vaughn will be the next boss to sit on the chair, the whole matter is being more discussed at our meetings. I wanted to know if you are aware of the situation. Things are going to change and I don't know of how to feel".
Looking at his friend's concern, Williams thought that he was making too much of a normal situation. "Relax will you? I haven't been notified yet but that's not something I wasn't expecting. This will be a new administration: they will want to do things differently. But just do your job as good as I know you are and don't get too involved into discussing the general policy. We are all working on the same team and as long as everyone is aware of it we will overcome this".
MacAllister seemed to be still uncomfortable with the situation but he dropped the subject. "Yeah. Well it must be me: I think I would have preferred to stay out of the Pentagon if not for the boost in my career". Williams laughed at the comment and both men stood there, taking the opportunity afterwards to discuss their personal plans for next year.
André Galvão, 2002