Chapter 5: Operation Nothing to Declare

"Skyranger One, you are cleared to land in Hanger 5. Welcome home" the XCOM Air Traffic Control operator welcomed the flight back to base.

"Roger. Skyranger One cleared for landing, Hanger 5" Big Sky replied in confirmation.

Big Sky gradually pulled back on the throttle held firmly in his hand, slowing the Skyranger as they passed over the range of hills which concealed the entrance to the XCOM base from all but the most curious of observers. The great metal jaws of the bases blast doors opened with a mechanical roar as it prepared to accept its arrival.

A gentle pull on the control column arrested their descent as he guided the Skyranger down into the cavern. A few slight shifts of the control column to steady the craft as it descended towards the landing platform.

Just a few more feet.

Big Sky counted them down in his head.

50…30…15

Big Sky drew the throttle back to idle, the rhythmic hum of the engines reduced to a low whisper. The landing gear gave out a low groan as it accepted the full weight of the craft. Big Sky brought the Skyrangers fuel switch to the cut-off position and listened as the whirr of the engines slowed into silence.

Big Sky went through the shutdown procedure with practiced efficiency born through years of intensive training. Even after the most harrowing of missions the importance of ensuring the shutdown procedure was followed correctly could not be understated. As the final system was deactivated Big Sky fell slumped back in his seat, slowly releasing the breath he hadn't realised he had been holding since beginning the descent. No matter how many times he made that descent it was still a tense ride until the final system was shutdown.

Big Sky released the restraints which held him tightly in his pilots seat, finally free to reach the control for the rear loading ramp. The motor whirred to life as the loading ramp descended, striking the hanger floor with a resounding metallic clunk. His piloting duties complete Big Sky lifted himself from his seat and climbed through the cockpit access hatch into the main cabin.

Big Sky emerged to see the members of the strike team already descending the ramp, carrying Corporal Hammond between them on a folding stretcher. The young soldier had learnt the hard way that jumping straight off a 3-story roof, even with an open skip of rubbish to break your fall, was a tactic best reserved only for those soldiers with the appropriate MELD augmentations.

Strewn amongst the cabin were crates of alien technology secured from the battle site that would need to be quarantined, catalogued and then sent to the research and engineering labs are required. There were also crates filled with extra ammunition, medical supplies and the like that would need to be removed, checked and replaced before the next operation. As soon as the strike team was clear the ground crew would come on board to replace supplies and perform the necessary post-flight survey.

Big Sky glanced to the side and noted that not all of the strike team had left, Lieutenant Inessa Tanner stood at the back of the cabin, an unmarked crate held between her arms. Without a word, Big Sky leant down and retrieved the other crate laid down beside her. This was not usually part of job description, but he knew whatever was inside this crate was not for the attention of XCOM at large.

On the surface XCOM itself was a pretty well funded enterprise, having secured the backing of some of the largest economic powers in the world. The reality on the ground however was that while basic provisions and essential supplies were readily available anything beyond that was a complete mess. The secret nature of the project made sure anything coming in or out of the base was heavily scrutinised so even managing to requisition basic luxuries was a time-consuming process, not even considering the cost and logistics of securing space on the official transports. Enter Lieutenant Inessa 'Cognitio' Tanner.

Growing up in the historic trade city of Venice she had learnt from an early age about the value of free trade and business connections. Taking this to heart as she entered adulthood and began to travel the world she quickly learned the secret places to look for the best deals and the unusual items. After joining the Italian army and being drafted into XCOM as a field medic she quickly saw an opportunity for those with the skills and the contacts to not only help their fellow personnel but make a healthy profit on the side.

She found her opening in XCOMs unique position as an organisation which was free to operate across international borders while in possession of a stealth transport and no obligation to report to local Customs officials. There was money to be made bringing items to the base itself but the even more lucrative side of things lay in what passed into the base before passing right back out again.

XCOM had been under very tight scrutiny from the Council since the beginning but XCOMs elimination of the alien base had finally given Tanners operations the leeway necessary to start making some real scratch. This one in particular was a very special order, hard to obtain, even harder to move discreetly.

"Very helpful these invaders, deciding to touch down right where we could procure such a unique item" Tanner said as she walked towards the open ramp. "I hope they keep this up"

"What makes you think the aliens would be so accommodating as to choose their invasion sites based on your delivery schedule?" Big Sky asked.

"Well I've got a shipment heading to Scotland next week" Tanner said. "Can't we just claim there was an alien sighting in Cardiff?"

"Why would the aliens want to invade Cardiff?" Big Sky asked.

"Same answer as to the question that has troubled scholars for years: Why would anyone would want to live in Cardiff?" Tanner stepped off the loading ramp and turned towards the main exit from the hanger. "Although saying that I did have an uncle who-"

"Lieutenant!"

Tanner was brought to a stop in an instant, she recognised that voice.

"Crap" Tanner cursed beneath her breath before turning to meet them. She was greeted by the sight of Major Rupert Saul, a tall, gaunt Englishman who carried with him the air of always suspecting you of doing something or at the very least being on the verge of doing something. He approached flanked by two XCOM base security personnel. Due to the nature of XCOMs unique structure some staff members found themselves performing auxiliary roles when not undertaking their regular duties. Major Saul was considered the defacto head of internal security for the facility.

"We seem to have two additional crates from what had been listed on the manifest" Saul said, eyeing the two crates in front of him.

"Must be a typing error" Tanner replied.

"I believe ensuring the accuracy of the manifest is the responsibility of the pilot" Saul turned his gaze to Big Sky.

"Paperwork was never my forte" Big Sky responded.

"Indeed. In fact, I've noticed several similar irregularities on a number of operations you and Lieutenant Tanner have been involved in" Saul said. "Extra crates not being listed on the manifest, supplies being loaded or unloaded without the assistance of the groundcrew. Almost as though someone had something to hide, almost as though someone were smuggling"

"Smuggling?" Tanner snarked. "Who would ever consider such a thing"

"I also noted that your latest assignment was in east Asia, home of the Golden Triangle, North Korean nukes and some of the largest counterfeiting syndicates in the world. It makes me wonder what two people with access to a stealth military transport could be have brought back in some unlisted crates"

"Hey, I'm just the flying cabbie here" Big Sky asserted.

Saul returned his attention to Tanner. "What's in the crate, Tanner?"

"She Geng (Snake Soup)" Tanner replied flatly.

"Of course" Saul replied with a sly sneer before turning to his subordinate beside him. "Corporal Thatcher, if you would"

Thatcher secured his assault rifle and produced a compact crowbar from his belt. Tanner and Big Sky laid the crates at their feet before stepping back to allow the Corporal to work. Thatcher jammed the crowbar into the gap and lifted the lid away with a single jerk. As they gazed down at the revealed contents of the first crate Tanner was sure she heard Thatcher hold back a deep wretch. Some of the newer recruits took time to adjust to the sorts of things you saw as part of daily life in XCOM, but some things you simply couldn't be prepared for.

Thing is, it was unlikely that anyone had expected to find a 23-foot-long body pillow emblazoned with a semi-naked anime snake girl.

Tanner broke the lingering silence. "It's something of an acquired taste"

XCOM Rule 435: All XCOM personnel are prohibited from using XCOM resources to operate international smuggling operations

435a: If illicit operations continue, the Council will insist measures be implemented to have Customs officials on staff to monitor all incoming/outgoing traffic

435b: Seriously guys, who wants to be screened by the TSA before/after every mission.