ADVENT | History

The Ankara Miracle

"You have some things to explain."

- Chancellor Saudia Vyandar, to the Chronicler

DAMASCUS – The region continues to reel and rebuild after the devastation unleashed by the surprise attack by Patricia Trask against Ankara. Believed by ADVENT to have been in response to the conquest of the country, it is still unconfirmed as to the actual reason it was targeted by Trask for destruction.

"There were several potential reasons," an ADVENT spokesman shared. "It is possible this was largely intended to send a message to us that our victory would not be tolerated. It is also possible that she was intending to target specific individuals, though we do not know if she succeeded in this effort."

Explaining why they had not anticipated an attack, ADVENT has said that Trask has been occupied managing the Korean front, and there were no indications that she was preparing for a secondary operation. "Teleportation makes things difficult, especially if it only involves a single person," the spokesman said. "In theory, Patricia could attack any city with no warning. She's done it before, as New York showed. Usually this is not ideal, as a single individual lacks a proper means to secure any captured territory, but it is useful for basic attacks."

Nevertheless, a combined effort of ADVENT and XCOM forces were able to defeat her, though questions remain as to how this was accomplished. Neither ADVENT or XCOM have released the exact personnel who were involved in handling Trask, and only scarce video exists showcasing footage between what is believed to be Trask and an ADVENT or XCOM psion, though it is believed a sandstorm is obscuring the details.

XCOM has released video footage of what is believed to be early in the battle, with Trask picking up a phone from the ground, and a few moments later, the infamous song "Never Gonna Give You Up" begins playing, before she is suddenly attacked through multiple portals with unidentified energy weapons. The video cuts out after this point.

XCOM has not provided any additional comment.

Yet no matter the circumstances behind or involved in the situation, it has resulted in the near-complete destruction of Ankara. ADVENT believes that almost all of the city will have to be rebuilt. This destruction includes major cultural sites and artifacts, including the Tomb of Atatürk, one of Turkey's most historic figures.

ADVENT Officials have not released how they plan to restore or recreate these places, but they have stated that they will "Work with all respective cultural authorities to restore each destroyed monument with respect", a sentiment that has been echoed by multiple Turkish cultural organizations, who have expressed a willingness to work with ADVENT to do this.

The attack on Ankara has also notably lessened hostile resentment to ADVENT. Groups which were pressing ADVENT for certain concessions and treatment have jointly released statements condemning the attack and the Ethereal Collective for the unprovoked attack, and have resolved to work in easing the transition of Turkey into ADVENT.

There has been no comment from the Sovereign African States.

One final fact of the attack was that there was a significantly lower civilian casualty rate than expected, and the vast majority of the civilian population was successfully evacuated. ADVENT has not explained how this was possible, as eyewitnesses have said that Patricia targeted the facilities that held Gateways.

"There wasn't any organization," one of the survivors shared. "We were hiding and hoping she would pass us. The next moment I was in a completely different city. It was like a rush of air, and I was gone. It was the same for everyone else."

Questions have been raised of the scale of which this evacuation was done, as hundreds of witnesses describe similar effects, including those who saw Trask and what they describe as a female cyborg and ADVENT official standoff, though were almost killed before they too, vanished.

ADVENT's reluctance to provide a plausible explanation, and the questions surrounding the details of the clash itself have led some to calling it divine intervention, as the witnesses insist that no one from ADVENT or XCOM evacuated them, and this applied to ADVENT soldiers who were still in the city.

No matter the truth, the Ankara Miracle will stand as a testament to the determination and skill of ADVENT and XCOM to deter and defeat even the strongest warriors the Collective sends against Earth.

- Article | "After Ankara, Triumph and Questions"

To the Battlemaster,

I understand that you have a significant number of questions regarding the failed operation against Ankara, and the answers to many of your questions will be provided in this report. This outcome was not intended, and there were a number of factors and considerations which were impossible to properly anticipate.

However, I will stress that very little of value was lost. I can confirm that Harbinger Trask will recover, despite her currently being removed from duties for an indeterminate period of time. However, she is alive, and we now have crucial information on the actions that XCOM, ADVENT, and T'Leth are taking and what they are capable of.

While it remains unknown if the primary objective was met, there is much we can learn from this experience.

PRELIMINARY PLANNING AND OBJECTIVES: The intention of the operation to Ankara was to remove the ADVENT officer known as the Lion from operation, due to his actions that cost the Collective significant losses throughout the Middle East. Harbinger Trask worked with the Zararch to acquire information, develop plans, and determine contingencies.

This was an operation which was professionally planned out and directly approved by myself as sound and capable. Intervention of this nature was not anticipated, and had ADVENT and XCOM reacted as expected – as they initially did – the operation would have been a success. It is also possible Harbinger Trask was successful in her removal of the Lion, as we have received no indication of his status since the operation.

STATUS OF HARBINGER TRASK: Harbinger Patricia Trask has suffered significant bodily damage throughout her body, with multiple fractures, burns, blood loss, bodily organs being rendered non-functional, and radiation poisoning. She teleported herself to the Temple Ship in critical condition, and would have died within thirty minutes if medical assistance had not been provided immediately.

She is currently unconscious and is scheduled for six surgeries over the next week, to bring her body into a state of self-healing. Due to the radiation caused by exposure to solar rays, much of her tissue will need to be repaired and replaced, which is being accomplished through nanotherapy, a thorough process which will take a significant amount of time.

There is no timetable for her full recovery, though she will return and learn from this experience. Until this period, as you have been informed, all operations on Earth have been returned to under your command.

IMMEDIATE POLITICAL AND REGIONAL FALLOUT: The operation has received swift condemnation by ADVENT, and the surrounding region. They were already hostile to the Collective, however the backlash was worse than anticipated due to the devastation that resulted as the result of the conflict.

The city of Ankara contains a number of important cultural and religious monuments and sites, particularly to the Turkish, including the grave of Atatürk, one of the most influential historic Turkish leaders. Its destruction has drastically damaged efforts to exacerbate ethnic tensions, and multiple Turkish groups are rallying behind ADVENT, dramatically improving their integration into the state.

Furthermore, the attempted elimination of the Lion has also generated substantial backlash, more than was anticipated, though the long-term effects of this are not determined until it is certain what his status is. If he is dead, it will almost certainly solidify the region against the Collective with little hope of successful alteration.

LACK OF COHERENT ADVENT NARRATIVE: One notable aspect of the aftermath of Ankara has been ADVENT resisting, or otherwise refusing to put forward a coherent narrative that explicitly explains the details of what happened. This is atypical of ADVENT, who is quick to provide details of their victories for messaging and propaganda purposes. They have not properly done so for Ankara, despite the near-death of Harbinger Trask.

They have pointed to her defeat, and that the attack was stopped with minimal loss of life, but they do not provide details, only the publicly known facts. This has had the effect of leaving the public confused, as XCOM has similarly remained silent. The consensus is that Patricia was defeated with a team of psions, but eyewitness testimony contradicts the idea that there was a coordinated XCOM-ADVENT response.

Neither ADVENT or XCOM has provided an explanation for the civilians and personnel who were psionically evacuated, on a scale that many eyewitnesses and experts have noted as extreme without prior coordination – as well as almost no individuals possessing teleportation psionics. ADVENT appears uncertain as to how to address this narrative, and are currently electing to ignore it under the guise of state security.

NEW DISPLAYED TECHNOLOGY: We are certain that the individual who engaged Harbinger Trask was the Chronicler. However, what is different is that the Chronicler was wearing a new suit of armor which had previously never been discovered, displayed, or disclosed to either ADVENT or XCOM.

This armor appeared to be power-based, as is expected, and reminiscent in size and function of a smaller XCOM MEC suit by how substantially it modified and increased the overall mass of the wearer. There is no indication that there is any ongoing project that has these specifications, and it is almost certain that it is a direct piece of Sovereign technology, likely created by T'Leth.

It is unclear what the exact capabilities of this armor are, although we can reasonably determine that it is at the highest end of durability and functionality. It is unknown if this enhances the link between the wearer and Sovereign One, or if it dramatically augments their psionic capabilities. It is possible that this is technology which will be disclosed to XCOM, who will work to replicate it.

INDICATIONS OF ESCALATION BY T'LETH: This is a clear message from T'Leth to the Collective. There is no possible means of interpreting this specific intervention. The mass evacuations were almost certainly done directly by T'Leth, as neither the Chronicler nor any other psion have demonstrated the capability to evacuate an entire city simultaneously.

This poses extremely disturbing indications, as it implies that T'Leth has a far greater practical reach than anticipated, despite his likely position in the deep ocean. This puts potentially every single position on Earth under direct risk of assault, as it is almost certain that T'Leth could intervene in a far less benevolent manner with no prior warning.

It is unknown the difficulty of this capability, or if there are additional factors we are not seeing, but it should not be understated this capability, and if he could do it once, there is no reason to believe he will not do it again. The Chronicler was also a direct message, as he was wearing new armor which had not previously been utilized, which is almost certainly more advanced and powerful.

That the Chronicler directly intervened without previous coordination with ADVENT or XCOM, likely on the direction of T'Leth, further indicates that T'Leth is acting more autonomously which has serious implications for his future moves, based on what we know of his previous history.

According to Mosrimor, T'Leth has historically engaged until a point where he flees and recalibrates. It is extremely unlikely this was something he anticipated. It is possible that this intervention was not a prelude to his future involvement, but his departure - as a warning to not pursue him further. T'Leth has historically not involved himself in the affairs of lesser species - one reason his current position is atypical.

However, there is the additional concern that he has reassessed this habit, and will fully assume control of Humanity as a proper proxy species. This would pose a significant danger to the Ethereal Collective, and could expect a rapid technological enhancement or even expulsion from Earth should T'Leth fully enter the fray.

While the likelihood of this remains unknown, and likely minimal, it is a fact that we should consider as plausible.

- Zar'Chon'ravarian'vitiary

Transcript of call between The Office of the Chancellor and the Vatican

[Pope Marcellus III]: "A good morning to you, Chancellor."

[Saudia Vyandar]: "And you, your Holiness."

[M]: "Your formality is appreciated."

[SV]: "Yes, and I sincerely hope you have some answers."

[M]: "I will answer to the best of my abilities, of course."

[SV]: "I presume you are aware of the events of Ankara."

[M]: "I am."

[SV]: "How aware, if I may ask?"

[M]: "Chancellor, I confess to being uncertain what you are driving towards."

[SV]: "What do you know of the Seraphim?"

[M]: "Pardon me?"

[SV]: "The Seraphim. Does that ring any bells?"

[M]: "Of course, Seraphims are not foreign to me. But you mean...the Seraphim."

[SV]: "I'm not certain what I mean, only that there are certain things the Vatican seems to have access to that are suddenly becoming relevant."

[M]: "Chancellor, why are you asking me about the Seraphim?"

[SV]: "Because the one who nearly killed Patricia called himself that."

[M]: "..."

[SV]: "Your silence is telling."

[M]: "The armor tied to the King of Swords. Now the return of the Seraphim. I dislike such terms, Chancellor, but it is a...poor omen"

[SV]: "Come again?"

[M]: "The history of the Vatican is long, Chancellor. Long before you were conceived, long before the modern world entered its infancy. There are stories - legends, more like - that speak of certain events, peoples, and individuals. One of them speaks of the Seraphim, but not those in the Bible, but one man gifted with the authority and judgement of God upon Earth who slew the sinful and evil of this world, and when his work was done, he vanished."

[SV]: "I was unaware this legend existed."

[M]: "Few know of it. Much of it distorted and lost to history. We keep more than wealth in our chambers, Chancellor. I cannot help but wonder if the legend was more truthful than any of us once believed."

[SV]: "A running theme I'm learning. And the implications…"

[M]: "Indeed, Chancellor. If indeed the Seraphim has returned to this mortal plane, he has come to defend God's people. And to slay a new evil that threatens this world. That you speak of this tells me that you know not who this individual was – or they are not under your command."

[SV]: "I would expect a formal request from ADVENT later today on these…legends. If one is more truthful than we believe, perhaps there are others."

[M]: "Perhaps we should meet soon, Chancellor. I believe I may be able to provide some answers - or bring to light certain things that even I thought were fanciful, yet must reconsider now."

[SV]: "It would be for the best. Expect a visit shortly. I suspect we'll have much to discuss."

[M]: "Indeed. God be with you, Chancellor."

[SV]: "A pleasant day to you, your Holiness."

Transcript end.

Transcript of an Ankara Survivor

[Interviewer Magnus Dahl]: "Thank you for taking the time to talk today. I understand the previous days have been very out of the ordinary."

[Oran Erkoc]: "An understatement.'

[MD]: "Take your time, there is no rush today."

[OE]: "I'm not sure where to start with this."

[MD]: "We can ease into it, maybe start with how the day started."

[OE]: "Ok. Earlier, there wasn't much going on. I was part of the workers, rebuilding the damage with ADVENT overseers. Busy days, hard, but they were good."

[MD]: "You got along with ADVENT."

[OE]: "Well enough."

[MD]: "And you were working during the day?"

[OE]: "Not exactly. I'd just finished my shift, in fact, most of the workers had later in the day. A few more hours and the night crews would be coming out. It's lucky that Patricia attacked when she did, otherwise the number of people who would have died would have probably been more."

[MD]: "Just because of the volume of people? Why do you say that?"

[OE]: "Because more people were in their homes. When the attack started, most people were in their homes, and they stayed there. Less people out, less people who were directly targeted, or became collateral."

[MD]: "ADVENT didn't have evacuation protocols?"

[OE]: "No, they did. In the case of a conventional attack. Patricia…was not a conventional attack. Drills and the like become useless when your enemy can hunt you down with a thought or shoot lightning from her hands."

[MD]: "So you were home when the attack happened. What was going through your mind?"

[OE]: "At first there was just confusion. None of us knew it was Patricia attacking at first. We just heard the sirens and knew there was going to be another attack. Not really afraid, not yet."

[MD]: "Until you knew it was Patricia. How did you find out?"

[OE]: "Phones. Friends sent recorded video and said who it was, and that was when we became afraid. Even if ADVENT could respond, by the time it happened, it would be too late. We didn't know what she was doing, and it didn't matter."

[MD]: "Did you think you were going to die?"

[OE]: "I was afraid of that, yes. I don't know how much danger I was personally in, but I could hear the fighting and I hid with my family in my closet. That kind of thinking doesn't happen when you know what people like Patricia are capable of."

[ME]: "And then you were evacuated?"

[OE]: "I don't know what actually happened. I remember things seemed to go quiet, and the next thing I knew all of us were in a grocery store in front of a lot of confused shoppers – in Damascus."

[ME]: "It just happened to you? You didn't see any ADVENT or XCOM personnel nearby?"

[OE]: "If they were there, I didn't see them. And neither did anyone else. We were literally whisked out of danger. God watched over his people that day."

[ME]: "You believe this was divine intervention?"

[OE]: "Do you have a better explanation? I know of no man, nor even alien, who could deliver an entire city of people out of danger. And it was fortunate it happened to, as our home was destroyed in the process. If not God, they who saved us deserve our eternal gratitude."

[ME]: "With Ankara destroyed, what will you plan on doing now?"

[OE]: "I don't know. Our home was there, and there is no other place I can see me living in. I believe I will be involved in whatever rebuilding ADVENT plans for the city. It cannot be left in ruins, even if it must be built from the ground up."

[ME]: "Indeed, I wish you well in your work."

Transcript ends.