ADVENT: History
Aegis and the Media
"I have been asked to be on a 'talk show'. I am told it is a great honor, and will boost morale for the war."
- Aegis, to the Commander of XCOM
Subject: Jonas Culbert
Occupation: Alien Propagandist/Conspiracy Theorist
Video Title: THIS IS THE END!
From the beginning he is visibly agitated. "I can seriously not believe what is happening right now! It is terrifying just how calmly everyone is reacting to this. Folks, this isn't just about the fact that the government is directly controlled by an alien, but that it is XCOM that was behind it this whole time! It's validated everything that I've said! It's the aliens that are behind the tyranny of ADVENT and seek to destroy everything we hold dear!" [Observer note: Hahaha, this is not even close to what he was saying earlier. He'd never once actually wondered if it was an alien controlling everything]
He angrily bangs his fist on the table, knocking some papers off the table. "This is the clearest call to fight back if there ever was one! We cannot simply sit by while our supposed 'leaders' are collaborating with mind-controlling alien tyrants. Folks, this war is nothing but a smokescreen! It's false flag after false flag in a proxy war so complex that no one but only the few that pay attention can pick up!"
"It all comes back down to XCOM. We've stated before that our inside sources have said that they have been behind the push for the new world order – ADVENT – and with this revelation, it makes complete sense! XCOM sold out our species for power, for money, I don't know what! But they are traitors to Humanity and should be killed like the vermin they are!" [Observer note: This is hilarious]
He becomes calmer, and begins picking up some papers and looks down at them. "Now, let's look at the evidence. The goal here – under this Aegis alien – is to establish an alien state against the Ethereal Collective. Now, I can't say what the reasons are, but the motivations are plain as day. ADVENT was him laying the groundwork for an expansive power, an incubation period for his plans no doubt. Let's look at the facts here."
Holds up one finger. "First, he picked a time to be 'revealed' when he would be needed. He completely controlled the reaction and as a result he is already portrayed as a hero, and has the brainwashed and controlled media eating out of his hand – likely with his mind control! He's planning to establish himself as a deity to us, someone who is so far above us mere mortals that we'll instinctively obey him!"
Another raised finger. "Next, there were so-called 'defections' by aliens. Clearly double agents that had been spying for him this entire time, all waiting for the signal to defect and shore up Aegis's power base – making him a legitimate political power to the Collective. This is boosted by his control of ADVENT and partnership with XCOM." [Observer note: Interesting that he's apparently controlling ADVENT, but working with XCOM. Rather considerate of the power-hungry alien to be content with just a partnership]
Shakes his head. "Now, here's the real kicker that ties this back together – ADVENT is already looking to find ways to integrate aliens into ADVENT! They aren't even trying to hide it, they're 'working' with the 'defectors', which is obviously code for figuring out how to carefully put them in power. Don't be surprised once 'cooperating' aliens start appearing in important ADVENT positions – this is Aegis phasing Humans out to replace them with his puppets!"
"This is as serious as it has ever been, folks! We can't sit back any longer! This is the beginning of the end, and if we ignore this, we are witnessing the final death of our species. Spread the truth of what I've said and do not fear ADVENT and this alien retaliating – we are Humans and we will not be beaten by the machinations of Aegis and his XCOM traitors!"
End video
Analysis: I mean…this situation gives him some new talking points; honestly his spiel was getting a bit stale. He could only pretend to follow the whole 'illuminati' path for so long before people started tuning him out (With our help getting him off the air). Honestly I don't know how he's still going, and this did seem to be his last push for relevance. If he can get a few nutjobs to attack ADVENT soldiers in the name of 'freedom' he might consider that mission accomplished.
He also seems to not be consistent, both in his views of the aliens and Aegis himself. It does not make sense for Aegis to show himself if he was secretly controlling everyone, and even if he did, I don't see why he would assume XCOM is working with him instead of being controlled. If Culbert is being supported by aliens, having anti-XCOM talking points makes sense.
The problem is that no one is interested in Culbert anymore. His relevancy has faded and thanks to our efforts, his online presence has been reduced to a sliver of what it once was. He is entertainment for us, but thankfully I think his days of misinforming the public are over. All that remains is to capture and charge him.
Maybe we'll let him do a special episode from the inside of a jail cell.
To: Central Officer Ariel Jackson [VERIFIED]
From: Kyong Suk-Chul [VERIFIED]
Subject: Potential Opportunity for Aegis
Message scanned for malicious attachments || Cleared
Attachments scanned: || Cleared
Incoming Location || Proxy not detected || Cleared
Allow contents to be freely viewed || True
Central Officer Jackson, a pleasure to communicate with you once more. Much has happened since our last communication, especially with the revelation that there is an Ethereal working with you…as well as a host of other aliens, as it turns out. However, that is not the purpose of reaching out to you today.
The media reaction to this has, unsurprisingly, been highly animated, and there is a great deal of speculation abounding about Aegis himself, the Collective, and the aliens in general. While there is some merit to allowing the speculation, it is only a matter of time before people come to objectively false conclusions due to a lack of concrete information.
Every single major media outlet and talk show has reached out to us, asking for the opportunity to interview Aegis, and are hoping he could shed some light on the enigma that is the Ethereals. While I do not know Aegis personally, I would hope he would be open to sharing some more information on himself and the aliens themselves, if for no other reason than to put people at ease…at least as much as he can.
He would, of course, be given the choice of where to appear and as all these kinds of shows are scripted to an extent, he would be able to point out where there would be things he couldn't answer or are classified. XCOM and ADVENT would also have some control over this. The overall goal is to put the public more at ease with an Ethereal that is on our side. He could also serve as an excellent foil to Quisilia, since he is firmly on our side.
I would like to at least ask that this is proposed to him. It also wouldn't kill XCOM to be a little more open to the public as well. People are curious, and sating such curiosity is an important part of keeping them under control. But ultimately, this is up to you.
- Kyong Suk-Chul, Minister of ADVENT Public Relations
To: The Commander [VERIFIED]
From: Ariel Jackson [VERIFIED]
Fwd: Subject: Potential Opportunity for Aegis
CC: Aegis, Shaojie Zhang
So this looks like it could be interesting. Got to admit that the thought of Aegis on a late-night show is highly amusing.
To: The Commander [VERIFIED]
From: Aegis [VERIFIED]
Fwd: Subject: Potential Opportunity for Aegis
CC: Ariel Jackson, Shaojie Zhang
This appears to be an interesting proposal. I have looked over the proposals sent by Minister Kyong, and I am not opposed to doing this, provided there are certain things that are understood. I am not sure how well Humans would respond to me, as I am not a public speaker nor specialize in such, but if it will open more to the possibility of alien alliances, then that is something that I can overlook.
If the Commander echoes this sentiment, I am willing to do this. I cannot promise that I can put the hosts at…ease, but I can do my best to impart what I can and answer their questions.
SCRIPT 22AA – THE LATE SHOW WITH JAKE MATTHEWS – AEGIS QUESTIONS
Episode #: 162
Air Date: 12/7/2016
Subject/Content: ADVENT Victory/Aegis
Host: Jake Matthews
Guest: Aegis (First alien guest – Ethereal species)
Preliminary notes: There has to be a minimum of distractions this episode – if we can't find an appropriate audience it might be best to forgo one for one night. It's something of a risk hosting any alien here, let alone an Ethereal. The comedy should probably be toned down a bit to account for the more serious nature of this – ADVENT wants this to inform as much as entertain.
Under no circumstances are unauthorized persons to interact with Aegis, or any XCOM or ADVENT representatives. Give the alien space, and be sure to give a warm reception if he speaks to you. By all accounts he's courteous, but still be careful what you say to him. Cues will be given at the appropriate times as usual. We will re-record if needed.
PART I: Opening and 8-10 minute recap of subject material. See respective document for script regarding that section.
PART II: GUEST – AEGIS
Questions to be asked in no particular order (Pending approval by Aegis himself, ADVENT, and XCOM):
1. What brought you to work with XCOM?
2. What is your view on the war?
3. What is your age?
4. Favorite thing about Earth/Humans?
5. Demonstration of psionics (Edited by Aegis – Defensive usage only, telepathy would be disconcerting).
6. Why are Ethereals so tall?
7. Do you have a spouse/significant other? (Applicable if aliens even understand that concept)
8. Thoughts on ADVENT?
9. Opinions on other aliens (Vitakara, Sectoids, etc.) Opinions on the Battlemaster.
10. Opinion on alien acts of terror.
11. Friends in the Collective?
12. Message for any aliens having second thoughts?
Note: This is probably a sufficient amount of questions for what time we have. I'm assuming that Aegis will know better than to talk about stuff that ADVENT will censor.
ADVENT Archive 0992 – The Late Show With Jake Matthews!
[Jake Matthews]: "Welcome back everyone, and tonight we have a very special guest! This is the man – or alien I should say – of the hour! Aegis!"
Applause as Aegis sits in a very oversized chair, dwarfing Matthews even when seated. The host has to look up whenever he speaks.
[Aegis]: "It is a pleasure to be here, although I must warn you that I have little experience with these types of events."
[JM]: "No need for worry, we're all interested in everything you have to say. You're very tall, I was worried you wouldn't fit in the studio. Why are all of you so big?"
Cue laughter.
[A]: "The short answer was that I was designed this way. The Creators, that is, the Ethereals in charge of growing more of our species, were continuously improving on our genome to make us stronger, faster, and…taller, as you have noted. Our species was already naturally gifted, and we have since expanded on it."
[JM]: "Fascinating. So if you don't mind my asking, your species is made up of clones?"
[A]: "No. We are not clones. We are, however, the product of combinations of multiple Ethereal genomes. Each Ethereal is unique, and their genetic traits were preserved and used in future Ethereals. A small number of Ethereals were born naturally, but as we are not naturally prone to breed fast, we had to supplement our numbers."
[JM]: "Really? Quite interesting, for better or worse, your species seems quite talented. While I'm sure none of us are complaining-" cue laughter. "-why help out the underdog in this situation?"
Brief pause.
[A]: "Because such actions were atypical. Yours was not the first primitive species we encountered. Previous contact had been mostly peaceful, and they were welcomed into our Collective. However, for reasons I am still having trouble understanding, the Imperator decided to destabilize and invade yours. I attempted to mitigate the operations, but was overruled multiple times. In the end, I knew that the only action that would make him take notice is if I left to oppose him. That is how I am here today."
[JM]: "That is, if I may say so, a very noble action." Cue applause. "I suspect it was not easy to go against this Imperator, and you must have had some partners."
[A]: "No. It wasn't. But it had to be done."
[JM]: "Well, I hope that Earth has treated you fine so far. What is your favorite thing about us?"
[A]: "Your music is…unique. Your is the first species to really have such a wide variety. Sometimes I wish to burn the device I am listening to, and others I consider to be completely beautiful."
[JM]: "I think you'll find many who share your sentiment." Cue laughter.
[A]: "But aside from that, I find the drive Humans have fascinating. We, that is, Ethereals, are so used to looking at things in a period of decades or centuries. The brisk actions of Humans continues to surprise and fascinate me, it is something that I cannot help but admire."
[JM]: "Hold on, decades and centuries? How old are you?"
[A]: "1,978 years."
Audible gasps.
[JM]: "Wow, you're older than a large part of Human history. Is that kind of lifespan normal?"
[A]: "We will not die of old age, so yes. I am far from the oldest Ethereal alive as well."
[JM]: "Ha, I don't know if I'd want to be alive that long. Would make marriage a little more daunting prospect."
Cue laughter.
[A]: "Ethereals generally did not treat mating as frivolously as certain Humans do."
[JM]: "Well, we can't all be the same. Different opinions for different species. Now, you've been here for some time, yes? How well do you think ADVENT is doing?"
[A]: "Exceptionally well, for a species that had originally had much aligned against it. It is fortunate that the Battlemaster has held back so far. I suspect that this will change, but such an escalation was inevitable. ADVENT is who your species should rally behind; there will be no better opportunity."
[JM]: "So many people seem to say. On that note, before we leave, is there anything you wish to say to the aliens in the Collective, or the Imperator himself?"
[A]: "Yes. Our species has been negligent in our leadership, and this is the consequence of those decisions. The Collective for the Imperator is a means to an end; a tool for him to use to fulfill his delusions of grandeur. Those who stay within the Collective and dare to speak out will be silenced; the only way to avoid this fate is to take steps to fight back. An opportunity has presented itself, I would ask that it not be wasted."
Applause
[JM]: "Well, we can hope the aliens take that to heart. Thank you for your time, Aegis, and good luck!"
More applause.
End segment.
Battlemaster, Quisilia, and Sana'Ligna,
While we have largely been focused on the situation within the Collective, I am still having agents and personnel keep an eye on the developing situation on Earth itself; specifically the reactions to Aegis and various alien defectors. I will be providing more updates on the former as the latter is a completely different subject.
There are a few main areas we have watched closely in determining the impact of Aegis revealing himself: Civilian, government, through official statements and social media. The response has gone through several phases: Initial shock, a degree of pandemonium, a demand for information, and now something akin to acceptance.
First I will focus on the government response to Aegis. ADVENT itself has, since the reveal, released several statements both welcoming and supporting Aegis, assuring that they will "work with him to fight against the Collective threat", which is markedly different from the 'alien threat' they had previously been using.
Chancellor Vyandar herself has met Aegis, and he appears to be heavily involved in how they are going to handle alien captives and defectors. While she initially seemed taken aback by the revelation, like usual she has adapted quickly and is turning Aegis into another resource to call upon. It will be interesting to see how this affects the relationship between ADVENT and XCOM, if it will at all.
For the most part, foreign governments have been very…quiet about anything relating to Aegis. What internal documents we have been able to acquire do paint an interesting picture – namely more suspicion against XCOM, who Aegis has been harbored by for this entire time. To some extent it is not unexpected, especially for countries still holding out against ADVENT, but there is some fear that Aegis is going to force a unification.
Since you are likely interested, the Argentinian government has resolved to not let it affect their anti-ADVENT stance, and the SAS is also holding fast to refusing any kind of ADVENT intervention. Now, what is interesting is that many European countries are looking at the situation with some skeptical interest. There are rumors that the UK will be joining ADVENT soon, and the initial reaction among prominent EU officials was a fear that Aegis could unintentionally bring about its death.
We shall see how true that is in the coming days.
The civilian reaction was, predictably, chaotic. Social media was lit up when Aegis first appeared on the battlefield and 'leaked' footage has been turned into gifs, videos, and memes, much of which was likely spread by ADVENT and XCOM intelligence to make the reaction a net positive one. Since the reveal, Aegis has also begun making public appearances (With ADVENT and XCOM support), and he has already grown something of a following.
While he is not quite as media savvy as Quisilia, it is clear that ADVENT is trying to turn him into someone who fulfills the same role but is undoubtedly on their side. Aegis has his own social media pages (Which he uses with some degree of frequency), and has more recently been making rounds on every major media station and talk show with some interesting results.
Aegis has been unofficially labeled as 'introspective', or at least that is the word that frequently comes up. He has been described as a very calm and reasonable alien that gives full answers and for the most part seems honest. Thanks to him, he has managed to educate some of the population of life in the Collective – both what he considers to be positives and negatives, and aliens in general. To even my eye it is relatively neutral, and seems to highlight what Aegis really wants: Reformation in the Collective.
He has not held back in his criticism of the Imperator, and has derided the lack of Ethereal leadership (Which is ironically, something that is being corrected now). For the most part Aegis's media tour is being received with acclaim, though I cannot gauge how much of that is simply due to the novelty of it all.
I do wonder if Aegis, ADVENT, and XCOM are using this as a smokescreen to distract the population from the fact that they have Caelior in captivity, and are almost certainly looking to incorporate China's battlefield intelligence into their own militaries. We shall soon find out, I think.
- Zar'Chon'ravarian'vitiary