Chapter 6: Operation Light Relief

Sophie Davies, researcher for the XCOM project under the direction of Chief Scientific Officer Dr Vahlen. She had never been told the specifics of her work before joining XCOM, such was the nature of a project that most the worlds governments didn't know existed and the few that did could neither confirm nor deny its existence.

In her previous life, she'd been working in research and development for a major technology company in Vancouver. A few months ago, word had begun to circulate regarding strange occurrences and sightings of unknown craft over major cities around the world and visits from men in black types with highest clearance and no identification. It seems they were looking for technical input on a top-secret project: No details, no background and no questions answered. Feeling the call for adventure stirred within her she signed up. It soon emerged that signing up meant a midnight knock on your door, two minutes to pack and a one-way flight on an unregistered transport to somewhere in eastern Europe.

In some ways, it was her ideal occupation, working at the forefront of a secret project which could save the entire human race from the very real threat of extra-terrestrial life. Although no one involved would ever receive the recognition they were due after this was over her knowledge and experience combined with a sterling recommendation would secure her any research position she could think to apply for. There was only one problem, and it was sitting in Dr Vahlens chair.

Sophie could hardly begin to comprehend the pressure she must be under on an almost daily basis. It was one thing to be the cog in a mighty machine, it was quite another to be one of the leading figures critical to the continued existence of the entire human race. If Dr Vahlen was feeling any stress about her position she didn't normally show it, presenting herself with an unwavering image of professionalism.

That was until the moment the mask slipped, usually when a requisition order was delayed or a lab tech forgot to update her on their project, and those closest to her were treated to the faintest glimpse of the rage simmering just beneath the surface. And dispensing that anger on the captive aliens the strike team brought back could only take her so far. For the sake of the team and XCOM at large Sophie decided she would find a way for the good Doctor to 'loosen up'.

Truth was, she'd been working on just such a project in a spare time, conducting design proofing and simulated analysis for the better part of a month now. All she needed was a prototype. With the assistance of a friend down in engineering she'd managed to get one fabricated from spare components and offcut alien materials. She tested it herself and found the device to be wholly in line with the design intent.

All she needed to do now was deliver it.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Dr Vahlen walked into her office on the very brink of smashing the first piece of technical equipment she came across if only replacing it wouldn't require several weeks waiting time and a mountain of requisition forms.

Collapsing down into her desk chair she clasped her hands over her eyes, enjoying the moment of quiet whilst simultaneously despairing at its inevitable brevity. Finally daring to open her eyes Vahlen noticed that she had less space free on her desk than she'd had this morning, now being taken up by a package. More work, of course.

Vahlen opened the package and took a quizzical look at the contents. It looked as though it was some new piece of alien tech for her department to research but why was it being sent directly to her and not to-

Vahlen noticed a note inside, reaching inside she read it expecting some new revelation as to its reason for being here. The note simply read:

Something to help you relax.

Signed: A Friend.

A second glance at the contents of the box caused all the pieces to fall into place one after another. In an instant, she realised exactly what this was.

Her first thoughts were of embarrassment, then anger, followed swiftly by realisation. It seems fate had been so kind as to deliver her a piece of technical equipment whose destruction would alleviate her frustration without needing to explain her requisition for a costly replacement. But before she acted upon her thoughts and sought to place the item in close proximity with the nearest wall ideas came to mind of an even greater opportunity. This however, would require some expert assistance.

Searching across her desk stacked high with electronic tablets and technical tools she found her lone pen and notepad that she always ensured to keep close at hand. Despite XCOM being almost entirely paperless she found it helpful to have something close to hand with which she could jot down ideas and inspirations as they came to her. Sometimes the best solution in these situations was the low tech one.

Writing furiously, she penned a letter to the one person in the entirety of XCOM she knew she could trust with this.

SECURITY CLEARANCE: OMEGA

Raymond

Need your technical expertise. Is it safe?

Vahlen

Securing the item and the note in a sealed package she summoned a research assistant to courier it to Engineering immediately with instructions that its contents were for Dr Shens eyes only.

With her query dispatched Vahlen decided to consume herself in the mornings experiments while she awaited her reply.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Returning to her office some hours later a small part of her was giddy with joy in a way she hadn't been since a child at Christmas at the sight of the package awaiting her on her desk. Closing the door to her office behind her she opened to contents of the box to find the object returned to her, sans any lead lined casing which would suggest it was inherently dangerous along with a note from the head of XCOMs Engineering division.

Vahlen

Firstly, not sure why you marked this Level Omega (Alien infiltration threat, trust no one).

Secondly, why you thought I would be the person to answer this.

The short answer is yes, it's safe.

Raymond

Vahlen also took note of a hastily scrawled addition at the bottom of the page.

Based on the materials and machine marks I need to have a word with one of my fabrication engineers, just as soon as I find my wrench.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Sophie swiped her ID card through the reader, the automated system chirping in acceptance as it allowed her entry to resume her work. It was coming into the second day since delivering her 'Care Package' to Dr Vahlen and so far she hadn't noticed any difference. Settling down at her workstation her mind found focus in thinking of the work to come for the day. Sophie felt as though she was close to a breakthrough on the redesign for the experimental plasma rifle, working out exactly how to mount the plasma cartridge without the excess heat singeing the operators palm the moment after firing. If she could just redistribute the supports to allow for additional air cooling over the core perhaps that would be sufficient to-

"Morning everyone"

Sophie glanced up from terminal as she saw Dr Vahlen walk into the lab, a surprisingly cheery smile spread across her face.

"How's everyone doing this morning?" Dr Vahlen asked.

It seems the good doctor was in high spirits this morning. Sophie could only sit and watch as Dr Vahlen passed amongst her team, asking after their progress and inquiring if they required any additional resources.

It appeared her invention was a success after all. In a strange way, perhaps this would be the thing which would win the war for humanity. Maybe this would become something of a strange footnote of history about the time that the world was saved based on one person's design for a super advanced d-

Sophie noticed a sealed note left at her workstation and her heart began to run wild in her chest. Almost all communications within XCOM were conducted through the internal intranet or face to face meetings. Physical communications were usually reserved for moments when security was of an utmost concern, either the most sensitive or the direst situations in which you wouldn't even trust those working around you.

Sophie discreetly broke the seal on the letter and began reading it:

From the desk of XCOM Chief Scientific Officer Dr Vahlen

XCOM Senior Researcher Sophie Davies,

Concerning the prototype device you had couriered to me.

This was it. This was how she got herself fired from one of the most important undertakings humanity had ever devised, how she would be dragged before command accused of international treason against all humanity. They wouldn't just let her walk out of here with all the things she'd seen. At best, they would have her confined to a detention centre in the deepest, darkest corner of the base for the rest of the war. Worst case, the Council could even claim she was too much of a security risk to keep alive. What was she alone against the fate of humanity? With all the resources and influence the Council had over this project combined with the overhanging air of deniability it would be mere child's play to arrange some form of 'accident' or simply claim she'd been transferred to one of the XCOM support bases overseas. Sophie dared to continue to read, if she was going down she at least wanted to know the terms.

I wanted to offer my personal thanks for the opportunity to be among the first to test your prototype device and I enclose my preliminary analysis.

"What?" was all Sophie could bring herself to say.

While the base materials used in its construction may be completely alien from those that came before it I do note that it has managed to retain the fundamental characteristics and design traits of its forebears. While I may have hoped for a certain level of innovation given the seemingly limitless possibilities for enhancement and redesign presented by our recent discoveries regarding the alien's technology I can appreciate the sensibility when dealing with such new technology to first master the essentials before deciding on how best to develop from there.

While the design may at first seem like little more than a continuation of our current understanding just using new materials even a cursory glance reveals several new ideas and improvements to the current market equivalents.

Taking the outer casing as an example, the alien alloys are both smoother to the touch and yet more resilient than any materials previously used for this purpose. This provides something of a novel experience with both the effortlessness at which it may pass across the surface of the skin combined with the ticklish sensation it leaves it leaves in its wake through even the briefest contact which takes a considerable time to dissipate.

My discovery that the device was powered was met by a mix of surprise and elation. The model appears to have several features I found most interesting. By adjusting the controls provided the casing could be heated or cooled with minimal delay. The variability and the smoothness of the transition of the speed settings proved something of a stimulating experience. Although I must admit, as time went on I found the precise coordination necessary to adjust the settings to be swiftly escaping me. Perhaps an opportunity presents itself to offer a programmable version with sequences adaptable to each operator's preferences.

These unique capabilities would lead me to suspect that the device incorporates some form of Elerium powered core however without disassembling the device entirely I can only speculate.

The crowning jewel however would be the unexpected and wholly delightful jolts of low level shocks which originate at seemingly random intervals and add a heady dose of anticipation to the proceedings. Admittedly, I am unsure as to whether this was an intended design feature or simply the surprisingly enjoyable result of the internal circuitry grounding itself on the outer casing. Further safety and quality testing may be in order.

Overall, I can say while I have thoroughly enjoyed the testing experience I do not believe the current design justifies the no doubt exorbitant cost necessary to manufacture the units for production.

Even as Sophie's brain fought to make sense of exactly what she had just read her eyes drifted down to the last line added at the bottom of the page.

I'm keeping the prototype.

XCOM Rule 8: Stop requesting Dr. Shen fabricate 'something that will get Dr. Vahlen to loosen up'