[You Interviewing Amalie]
"I have to admit… my favorite game you humans have invented would have to be the game of 'Chess'." She said, twirling her plasma pistol around by its trigger with one finger. "So many intertwining rules, so many possibilities and complex situations that can take place. Every move made can be part of a larger strategy, that until seventeen moves in, you don't see play out, so it was with me and my friend, and the 'Elders'."
"Yes, we all played the game, the grand game of chess, my friend, myself, and the Elders." She hissed with a grin. "I was such a fool at the game, as was my friend… until they made their first mistake in the war, in the grand design of the game we are playing. They gave 'him' the knowledge, and the rules, about how to 'play' the game… as well as countless years of experience battling their forces."
"Funny though… in the game he and I are playing… he oversees the pieces on 'our' side, the Elders in charge of 'their' pieces… and I am but a pawn on the field." She whispered quietly, before holding her pistol still and grinning at you now. "But then again… a 'pawn' can become so much more… like a 'queen'… so I guess that means… I have more 'power' than any other piece?"
= Chapter 2, The Raptors Fall =
(Commander's PoV)
[Tell me you have something good for me Central.] He said, mentally exhausted after reviewing all the data Shen and Tygan gave him regarding various updates to what he asked of them.
Tygan reported successfully completing research into new cloaking technology based on the old Ghost Grenades they recovered from XCOM HQ. At his order, Shen had already developed a few prototypes Ghost Mk II grenades, that were stronger and lasted longer than the old models they recovered. As for Shen, she was still working on the Seeker they recovered, but managed to crack into its frame and found a strange device that caught her attention.
As of now the 'device' in question was something she hadn't seen before, and nor had Tygan, and thus he and his research team were now investigating it and its purpose, while Shen figured out a way to get the Seeker to work now that it was missing a piece.
"As a matter of fact, I do sir, and I think you'll be pleased with what I've got." Central said, turning to the holo globe on the bridge. "After interrogating Amalie, I've picked out a location regarding the two 'weapons' we missed the chance to hit."
He turned to look at the globe and it slowly zoomed into a small weapon's factory just on the outskirts of a mega-metropolis. The factory wasn't anything special, it was developing chassis for MEC units and assembling them before they were put together.
"According to Amalie, the weapons went by the code names E.C. 1 and C.X. 2, and were classified to only the highest levels of Advent. Even the Council had difficulty getting us these building schematics. Their purpose though for being created, was never revealed to her or the Advent High Council. They were only told about these weapon's systems being produced at a heavily armed and protected factory."
[And… now they suddenly show up in this lightly defended, almost abandoned MEC factory?] He asked skeptically.
"She said, based on the intel she gathered while still pretending to be on Advent's side, the weapons were 'infected' by some unknown virus, and their development was put on hold." Central said with a chuckle. "However, they were nearing completion when they were infected, that was about the time when she leaked the intel to us, alongside the leak regarding her Viper worker 'Netra'. Two weeks after we hit Netra, the weapons systems were moved out of the factory and to some 'temporary' facility for storage until they could fix the Virus problem. She said she couldn't find out where they were sent, only some facility that was deactivated until they could restore their production and operations of their MEC units."
[Which is precisely why this lightly defended factory is only now recently becoming active, because they are starting to get around the virus…] He commented.
"The council said the factory went active four hours ago, and inside reports confirm that the factory is indeed running." Central continued. "But, they haven't seen anything actually 'leaving' the factory. The machines inside are running, and they hear noises going off but nothing actually ever leaves the factory."
[Which leads us to conclude, that they might be experimenting on these 'weapons systems' that Amalie spoke of and leaked to us.] He concluded. [I figured we'd find information about this new 'Advent General' before they resumed working on their weapons. This doesn't make sense…]
"Yea, I know what you mean…" Central said as Shen walked onto the bridge.
"You rang chiefs?" Shen asked quizzically. "That Seeker's body isn't going to fix itself if you keep calling me onto the bridge to check the lights."
[Shen, I need your expert opinion regarding the virus 'Big Sister' and I created to shut down Advent's MEC units and Sectopods.] He said, turning to look at his chief engineer. [Based on what you've examined with the virus, since it infected my SHIV a while back, how could Advent have found a workaround to its effects, and been able to use a portion of their MEC units and Sectopods to wipe out the South African resistance cell? Not taking into account with how quickly they were able to implement it.]
Shen crossed her arms and closed her eyes in thought, her brow furrowing as he watched her give his question serious thought.
"The only way they could have found a workaround, would be to use a very advanced AI system, capable of resisting and ignoring the effects of your virus." She said after a few minutes of thinking. "I'm talking serious, heavy duty AI programming, beyond even what the aliens have dished out in the past. Our Gremlins operate using some pretty advanced AI protocols, and I've even upgraded them based on what we've found in the Sectopod programming algorithms, and even 'they' can't resist your virus' effects."
She looked up at him with a serious look on her face, and he could tell that what she was saying was about as serious as he could ever get from his chief engineer.
"The only way your Gremlin is operating normally even now, because I can't remove the Virus from it while it's still linked to your human body via that psionic chip, is because of your human mind controlling it. The backup protocols that kicked in and saved your mind, downloading most of it onto the Gremlin, wiped out most of the Gremlin's personality core and internal data. Only the tactical information your mind kept stored within the Gremlin's database was saved, but otherwise all other information was deleted in order to make space for your mind to sit inside of it. Even the basic functions of your Gremlin's operating systems are barely able to fit inside, I've had to update your Gremlin's memory hardware seven times to ensure you don't' lose any of your memories Comman-."
There was silence across the bridge as Shen stopped talking, realizing that she had just talked about 'classified' information.
[Thank you, Shen, for updating me on my health…] He said politely, but in a slightly cold tone.
He had classified how his 'mental' health was so that nobody on the ship, outside of a few people, knew how dire his mental situation was. Only those on the bridge knew, and they were not to say a 'peep'.
His mental health was common knowledge to only bridge crew, thanks to Shen rushing to talk to him about it one time before he and the Sharks went to XCOM HQ. She explained about how the normal human brain stored up to two point five Petabytes of data, up to one million gigabytes. However, that was a single lifetime's amount of memory in data, whereas his mind had not only his life's experiences but also the vast number of 'wargame' scenarios Advent forced him to live out while unconscious. While his brain was still unconscious, the psionic chip linking his body's mind would keep his body and mind linked so that he didn't 'die'.
But there was one downside to this, his real human brain would not retain or gain back his conscious mind and memories, until he himself woke up from his coma.
Which is where the Gremlin came into the picture. Even though it was a lowly MK. 1 model Gremlin, it had been upgraded with memory storage so that he could retain his 'identity' and memories, without losing anything vital. But it had come at a personal cost, despite Shen's constant increasing of the memory space, there was only so much she could do to keep him 'intact'. For every second of activity his consciousness experienced, his Gremlin had to store at least seven Megabytes of data to ensure nothing was lost.
In truth, his Gremlin was running out of space to store his memories, and there was little he could do to stop it. All Shen could do was constantly increase his Gremlin's memory storage, and hope and wait for his body to 'finally' wake up.
It was either that, or accept the inevitable, and begin forgetting his memories of his past.
[In any case, it may be late but prep the Gamma Raptors for this mission. The blueprints indicate the factory isn't that big, and the forces they have shouldn't be too much for our Raptors squad to handle. This will be a quick mission, in and out. Infiltrate the factory, locate the two weapons systems, and blow them up before Advent finishes work on them. Then get out before they know what hit them.]
"Understood sir." Central said before nodding and giving several hand gestures. "Attention, Gamma Raptors Squad, proceed to armory for weapon and armor refit…"
(Mercy's PoV)
[Attention, Gamma Raptors Squad, proceed to armory for weapon and armor refit… Repeat, Attention, Gamma Raptors Squad, proceed to armory for weapon and armor refit.]
"A mission this late?" She hissed as her fellow Sharks were making their way to their bunk room for the night.
They had spent all day experimenting with the new weapon upgrades Shen had come up with for their equipment. Mercy's long range Sniper Rifle had a new dart poison to go along with thanks to her new promotion to the rank of Lieutenant. Her newest dart was geared mostly toward 'robotic' units, and the acid was designed to melt through armor and slowly damage the wires beneath.
Though that didn't mean the acid wouldn't melt flesh if used on an Advent Soldier.
Puppy yawned as they walked down the hallway. "Sounds like it'll be a quick mission if the Raptors are going in…" She muttered back.
"I give the Raptors fifteen minutes before they complete the job and get back home in time for breakfast!" Sharptooth yelled.
"I'll take that bet sista!" T-Rex called back.
"Hey Mercy, feel like watching the Raptors?" Hawkeye asked.
She thought about it and decided to join her 'mate to be' in watching her fellow XCOM soldiers with him. "I would like that." She said warmly.
"You guys have fun, call us when the Raptors finish up!" Sharptooth called out as they turned right while she and Hawkeye went left at an intersection, toward the mess hall.
As they were going they spotted the Raptors leaving the mess hall and passed them by in the hallway.
"Hey Sharks, tell that big mouthed Sharptooth of yours to save some breakfast for us when we get back, ya hear me luv?" Ripclaw, the Colonel Sniper of the Gamma Raptors called out in her British accent.
"How about you guys not take longer than seven minutes to finish your mission this time?" Hawkeye called back as they walked back.
"What do ya say to that kids?" Ripclaw asked nonchalantly.
"Ah, tell that snake lover if we take longer than ten to wrap it up, I'll join him and his squad in a round of 'strip poker'!" Lillith yelled, which got every member of the raptors to laugh.
Hearing humans talk among themselves confused her many days. For her species, they did not waste idle conversation with pointless information. Yet what humans did fascinated her every time she heard and watched them, partly because she was only getting used to 'human chit chat', and partly because what they said confused her greatly.
For example, she knew about 'Poker', a card game the Sharks sometimes played with their deck of cards while off duty, but she didn't know what this 'Strip Poker' was that Lillith just mentioned. Nor did she know why all the male members of the Gamma Raptors whistled loudly at the mention of that.
She and Hawkeye entered the mess hall where the last remnants of dinner were still waiting for those very late people to eat. Only a few partially filled bowls of the 'mystery meat' of the day remained, as well as the vegetables plates were left. Hawkeye grabbed them a pair of plates and only filled the two plates partially with food for them to eat while waiting for the Gamma Raptor's mission to be broadcast to the Avenger.
"What do you think the mission is tonight Hawkeye?" She asked him warmly.
"Probably something light, maybe just a raid on a factory or a quick information raid." He said.
"I hope the Raptors can succeed in today's mission."
"Are you kidding, the Gamma Raptors specialize in quick missions that require precision hits. Aside from you, me and Sharptooth, they have the best long range operatives in XCOM!" Hawkeye said proudly. "Advent's forces will be lucky to have a chance to shoot them before they get picked off!"
She nodded in acceptance, though she refrained from correcting him about the one time the Raptors were surrounded and forced to flee. That had been the time when her Hierarch Mother had revealed herself to XCOM, and was actively trying to stop them. Though, in their defense, the Commander had been actively trying to keep suspicion about her being a mole at a minimum.
They sat down at a table and quietly ate their late food. While she ate, she thought about her future, in particular the future of her species and what will become of them in the world.
Humans in the resistance only trust her kind because of the Commander's efforts, his careful, long term strategy to build trust between them. Her Hierarch Mother's public declaration and plea had reached their hearts, but she knew that, outside of XCOM, there was still great distrust between the Vipers and Humans in the resistance.
Yes, she was privileged to be an XCOM agent, to be the 'figure' for Vipers and Humans working together, but what about those who 'weren't' privileged like her?
Would the humans accept them even after the war had ended, even if they were victorious and Advent overthrown would the humans still be willing to accept them?
How long would it take before humans found themselves unable to stand Vipers on 'their' planet, and eventually hatred drove them to war once again?
Could their fragile alliance survive?
"Hey look, they've begun the mission." Hawkeye said suddenly.
She glanced up and was shocked to see that nearly half an hour had gone by. She had been so in thought about what would happen that she didn't even realized how much time had passed.
Though Hawkeye was right, the mission was just beginning, and she was watching Central debriefing the Gamma Raptors inside the Skyranger as they approached their destination.
[Alright listen up, thanks to information provided by 'Amalie' and the Council, we've managed to locate two experimental weapons systems Advent has been working on. They've been located sitting in an abandoned MEC factory that's only recently come back online. The guard is light and the factory is small, so this should be a clean and quick mission! Your job is to get in there, locate the weapons systems, and blow them up before Advent knows we're here! Good Luck Agents!]
As Central finished speaking the lights inside the Skyranger changed to yellow, indicating it was time to get ready. After the Gamma Raptors got up and prepped themselves, the lights changed to green and the door opened, cueing them to grab various ropes and slide down to the ground.
Ripclaw the Colonel on the Gamma Raptors was first to land, and was ready to fire the moment she hit, moments later the rest of her squad landed and the Commander went into his high position above them to give orders.
They had been dropped off on the outskirts of one of Advent's mega-metropolis cities, in particular one of the factory centers. Around them were closed buildings and vehicles left behind by those working night shifts.
[Commander, SHIV is currently under maintenance following the new upgrades Shen has prepared for it, so you will be unable to call it in for assistance this mission…]
[Understood Central, alright Raptors… let's get a peek at that factory!] The Commander said, and ordered one of the Technicians forward.
"On it dog." He said, moving forward. "Well well, lookie here!"
The Commander's vision closed onto a small group of advanced Advent Troopers on patrol with an Officer.
Upon spotting the group he began issuing orders for an ambush.
"Jawohl Sir!"
"Oui monsieur!"
"With haste!"
"Orders heard moving out!"
"If you say so!"
They each quickly took cover behind some of the cars and inside a guard station, and waited for the patrol to move closer, which the patrol did. Then each of the agents besides one Sniper went into overwatch, and soon was ordered to target the Officer.
"Right between the eyes!" The Sniper said.
He turned around the car, took aim, and fired on the Officer at maximum range, putting a plasma bolt right between its eyes.
"Hgaaaaara!" The Officer yelled loudly as he was felled, alerting the two Troopers instantly.
"Killed it, but we've been spotted!" The Sniper said.
The Commander watched as the Troopers pointed toward the agents in cover, and tried to take cover themselves, but the instant they moved, those agents in overwatch open fired.
"Graaaaah…"
"Yahaaaaraa…"
"I'm about to start keeping score~!" Ripclaw yelled enthusiastically.
"C'était trop facile!"
[Commander, I'm detecting no more hostile signals, area cleared.] Central said.
[Wait, three guards, that's it?] The Commander said instantly. [You said the guard was light, but 'that' light?]
[Yea, I hear you sir, but scanners aren't showing anything else in that factory.]
[Let's find out…]
He ordered the Technician to toss a Battle Scanner into the factory through the open bay door.
"Tossing Battle Scanner!" The Technician said.
He primed the scanner and tossed it through the door, and moments later he changed vision and saw inside of the factory.
The factory was small indeed, only consisting of one massive room which was divided into sections. One section was a conveyer belt which had pieces of MEC parts lying on it. A second section was devoted to welding finer pieces together which would go onto the conveyer belt. And a third section was an automated running conveyer for microchips and motherboards.
Along the walls were several depowered MEC units, old models and covered in dust. But at the far back were two 'containers' each marked E.C. 1, and C.X. 2, they could see inside the containers barely because of exposed gun barrels, yet the tops of the containers were bound down by elastic bands.
They also noticed that he could see the foot of what looked like a depowered Sectopod, yet it wasn't the standard model Advent Sectopod they were familiar with.
[What the…] The Commander muttered.
[That looks like a Pre-Advent Sectopod, from the original invasion era.] Central said.
[I know they were experimenting with a new weapon's system, but using an old model Sectopod like that? That makes no sense… its 'AI' is outdated, slow and incapable of complex problem solving on the level of the current Sectopod Model that Advent uses.] Amalie her Hierarch Mother suddenly hissed over their coms. [It makes no strategic or logical sense, why test something in 'that' chassis?]
[I don't know, but the sooner we blow up those containers, the better, we're just lucky the alarms haven't been sounded yet.]
Mercy watched as the Commander ordered the squad into position, ordering the Snipers to take up long range positions behind the cars to cover those moving inside, before having the Technicians and Rangers move into the factory. Once inside the Commander managed to get a better view of the inside of the factory, and it was as the Battle Scanner revealed, old model MEC units lining the walls covered in dust, and a single Pre-Advent Sectopod at the rear.
"Well, guess this will be a short and easy mission." Hawkeye commented.
"It has been ten minutes since mission began… does that mean… uh, 'Lillith' is it? She said she'd play 'strip poker' with us… what is that by the way?" She asked curiously.
"Uh, let's not actually remind her about that and… I'll tell you… some other time." Hawkeye said quickly.
The Commander ordered the Raptors forward toward the containers, both Rangers watching the hanging MEC units on the walls while the Technicians readied the X-4 charges. That was when, out of curiosity apparently, one of the Technicians opened a container and made a discovery.
"Hang on, something's wrong here!" He said.
Instantly all of the weapons pointed toward the containers, but the Technicians undid the bands holding the containers closed, and showed them what was inside.
"Scrap…" One said in confusion, pulling out pieces of metal fragments.
"Entspringt?" The other said, pulling out a clump of metal springs tied together.
"Junk?!" The first one said, pulling out literal junk with his hand.
[Commander, something's going on here… those aren't the weapons systems we were told about.] Central asked quietly.
[GET OUT OF THERE!] The Commander screamed suddenly, giving all of them orders to dash out of the building and make toward the Evac point.
Instantly the Raptors inside tried to run, but moments after they did the metal screen door slammed shut, trapping them in.
"We're trapped!"
Moments after the door closed the lights turned on and the Sectopod at the back suddenly came to life.
[Commander, that Sectopod just came online, and the MEC units in there are registering power signs.] Central said suddenly.
(Ah, if it isn't XCOm… and based on the intelligence I have on you, this appears to be the squad you refer to as the 'Gamma Raptors'.) A familiar voice declared over the intercom inside the factory. (How glad to make your acquaintance 'Commander', I have learned so much about you.)
*What the… that voice… it sounds familiar…* Mercy thought, but her thoughts were interrupted as the MEC units started coming online.
"We've been flanked!" The Technician shouted as eight MEC's came online.
(I have learned from the database I have on you, that you have made great accomplishments using very limited resources.) The voice said confidently. (Therefore, I have decided the best way to demonstrate my capabilities, would be to reveal how much 'I' can do with 'limited' resources… do try your best to keep your forces alive long enough, to ensure you perform to your maximum potential.)
[That signal is being broadcast from somewhere, whoever is talking isn't in that building!]
[Central, find me a way to open that door!] The Commander ordered, as he made his Raptors trapped inside take up defensive positions.
(Since you went to all the trouble of coming out here tonight, allow me to present you a 'prototype of the weapons system you refer to as C.X. 2…)
The Sectopod looked toward the Raptors as the MEC units pulled weapons from their backs, and aimed them at the XCOM Agents.
[XCOM… Enemies… Directive… Terminate…] The mechanical voice called out. [Terminate… Terminate… TERMINAAAAAATE!]
The Sectopod took one giant step forward, and fired a massive laser at the XCOM soldiers, it barely missed the operatives, but instead of breaking the door behind them it was absorbed as a force field was raised suddenly.
"Here they come!"
The Commander did not waste any time as he ordered the Technician to try and hack the Sectopod with a Gremlin's hack protocols. However, the AI of the Sectopod was protected by an extremely powerful firewall, so strong that the Gremlin could not break through even a fraction.
"It's too tough…" The Technician said, before an MEC unit fired on him.
His cover was broken as the others returned fire, and he was ordered by the Commander to take new cover behind a conveyer belt.
The Sectopod on the other hand, raised a small plasma firing weapon, and took three rapid fire shots as he tried to run for cover.
And all three shots landed perfectly.
"Gaaaraaaaaa…" The Technician yelled as he was flung backward by the force of the attack, and his life signals went from 'full' to 'flat'.
He was dead.
"Get us out of here Commander!"
(I hope you approve of the gamble I took in preparing this trap… first I leaked false information that was 'reliable' yet 'faked' to perfection.) The voice declared over the intercom inside, even as the MEC units fired on the remaining three trapped XCOM operatives. (First I had set up the scenario in a way that ensured the squad type I wanted came here, then I prepared an ambush in a way that would best dismantle and eliminate your force sent. All in all, it had a seventy-six-point fourteen percent chance of succeeding.)
[Central, get me a way out of here!] The Commander yelled as the Sectopod took another step forward and fired on his trapped squad.
[I can't find a way to override the door or the force field!] Central replied hysterically.
(My strategy for this operation was to first, isolate your force and divide it into two halves. Since I speculated that you would use your ranged forces outside while sending your close ranged forces inside. By cutting your forces inside off from their long range assistance, their capabilities in combat are diminished significantly, while your long range soldiers sit outside useless, unable to assist those trapped inside.) The Voice declared proudly, tauntingly as he ordered his Snipers outside to try and grenade the building walls, hoping to break a hole for those trapped inside. (Since your long-ranged specialists don't fare well against overwhelming numbers at close range, I prepared a special surprise for those trapped outside to enjoy… I hope you approve of this next ambush.)
"Hryaaaaaaawaraaa!" A sudden hissing cry yelled, causing the Commander to momentarily turn away from his trapped raptors inside to those stuck outside.
Directly behind Ripclaw and her fellow Sniper, five Cryssalids reared up from the ground and charged toward them.
"We've been flanked!" Ripclaw yelled, as they both pulled out their pistols and fired on the attacking Cryssalids.
"Gaaaaaah!" Lillith screamed, and they watched as the Commander zoomed in on Lillith, being blasted by the Sectopod's primary weapon… evaporating an entire half of her body.
The remaining half fell to the ground.
"Nein ... KEIN, HABE IHN HIER HERAUS!"
The remaining soldiers inside had gone to full panic mode, and ignored the Commander's orders to throw their grenades, and instead fired randomly at MEC units.
"Gyeeeeeeeeaaaah!"
Outside the Commander watched as three Cryssalids were felled by his Sniper's guns, but one jumped onto one of his snipers, grabbed her by the neck, and snapped it… killing his sniper instantly.
"YOU BASTAAAAAAAARDS!" Ripclaw yelled furiously, firing at the last two point, blank with her pistol.
(By the way Commander, I know this may seem like a bad time… what with your forces being killed… but you should know that the two weapons systems have long since been tested and implemented into new models of Sectopods.)The voice declared gleefully. (Even if you destroyed this Sectopod… you would have accomplished nothing… and speaking of your last surviving Soldiers inside…)
The Commander's eyes turned toward the Sectopod inside, and he watched as it began to steam and shake constantly.
[Commander, that thing is going critical!]
[No… I can't… I can't save them!]
Mercy and Hawkeye could only watch helplessly as both surviving Raptors inside fired desperately at the door behind them, as if hoping they could blast a way out, but the plasma shield keeping the door protected held firm.
Then…
-KABOOOOOOOOOM-
Ripclaw was flung backward as she was blown away by the shockwave and force of the explosion, along with the Commander's Gremlin. When she got up wearily, they saw that the building had been leveled, and was nothing more than a broken wreck of bent, heated metal.
"They're… dead… they're all… dead…" She whispered in shock.
The Commander too was in shock, even as he ordered the last remaining Gamma Raptor to light an evacuation signal directly below her.
Moments later, the Skyranger came in, dropped a rope for Ripclaw to grab and pull herself up.
[Dead… all dead… and for 'nothing'…] The Commander whispered as he too floated into the Skyranger, before cutting the feed to them.
Mercy and Hawkeye simply stared in shock and awe at the static image of the screen, along with those still in the mess hall.
She could not believe her eyes.
"Hey guys, so how did the Raptors do?" Puppy said happily as she walked in moments later. "Sorry I'm up so late, but I just had to find out how the Raptors did… leme guess, they just wrapped up Advent and are heading home now?"
Mercy barely managed to glance toward her happy, ignorant ally, and saw the look of smug pride changing ever so slowly to slight worry.
"What's wrong, you look like it's the end of the world?" Puppy asked curiously. "Come on, surely they just came out with a few scrapes and bruises… right?"
