Prologue: The Alliance

The Bastion, Antarctica

Saudia Vyandar stood in front of the small hologlobe resting on the conference table, the image slowly rotating on its axis.

It was rather incredible, she mused while watching the world spin, how much times had changed in such a relatively short span of time. The War on Terror had been the only recent event that had nearly given them the opening they needed to shatter the countries apart. It was unfortunate that it hadn't worked out quite like she hoped, but even their reach had limits.

Even so, she still wasn't quite sure if she could count that event as a failed operation or if they simply hadn't invested enough resources to begin with. The extent of their involvement had been planting agents within some of the terror cells and maneuvering them into positions of influence while encouraging the scattered cells to unite. They had enough ranking agents in the Saudi government to make funding the unification possible and were nearly untraceable thanks to EXALT's shell companies and banks.

But after that initial investment…EXALT had quietly watched as the terrorists united better that they could have possibly hoped. It was unfortunate that truly organized fanatics were much rarer these days, as they were by far the best to work with. They were easily predictable, loyal, and genuinely believed they were fighting for some higher power.

Saudia smiled in derision as she reflected on that. Idiots, all of them. But useful idiots who, while probably not conquering the world as their god dictated, would have made enough of an impact that EXALT could begin making deeper inroads into the United Nations, America, Russia and China.

Of course, everything had gone downhill after the so-called "Commander" appeared pretty much out of nowhere. Solaris has told her that he was positive that the Commander had been an American special forces operative, which seemed to explain who was supporting him. Regardless, she had watched with rather morbid fascination as the Commander had proved himself every bit as ruthless and barbaric as the terrorists he was fighting.

But he'd proven to be a highly intelligent tactician as well, and she was fairly certain that his terror tactics were less of an innate sadism, and more like an accurate reading of what would have the most effect. Not that it made his version of warfare any less barbaric; if she tried waging a war like that, there was no doubt the Families would remove her immediately, if not execute her.

True, there had been some discussion on becoming more involved after the massacre in the Caliphate's capital. But she'd ultimately decided against it as another operation would accomplish nothing except to waste more resources. It was clear that the Caliphate weren't going to advance into any civilized country, especially after the United Nations finally stepped in. Combined with the Commander, it was only a matter of time before the Caliphate would be finished.

To her though, it was slightly annoying that the Commander had been a little too thorough in his victory. The destruction of Mecca, combined with the actions of the Caliphate as a whole, had essentially reduced the Islamic religion's influence to a shadow of its former self. Unfortunately, it made the exploitation of Islamic-World relations an unwise use of resources, due to the reduced demographic.

So that had been a loss for sure. But one they could recover from, and they'd taken the opportunity to plant some more operatives within the United Nations. EXALT had known about the Council and the XCOM project for years, but quite honestly, never thought about investing too many resources into controlling it. The possibility of an alien invasion was a low one, especially with the state the world had been in.

Saudia shut off the hologlobe and walked away towards the window displaying the vast Antarctic wasteland. She inwardly sighed as she noted a snow picking up speed and whipping around with the wind. A storm. Great, just what she needed today.

She brushed her hair back and crossed her arms. Well, nothing she could do about that. Returning to her rumination, there had been one thing out of the whole war that had come out in their favor. Once the war was over, the United Nations decided to hunt down the Commander and his soldiers. A sentiment she could understand, and had even considered sending some of her own to help them. But it had turned out to be unneeded as the Commander had unexpectedly surrendered.

Saudia had been honestly surprised. It showed a surprising degree of acceptance to do that, especially knowing that it was going to lead to execution. Which was probably why the Commander had also negotiated for the lives of his soldiers as well, thinking that the United Nations would hold to their word. And had that condition come from anyone but the Commander, it likely would have been upheld.

But it turned out that even the United Nations had their limits, and sent most of the soldiers to the remaining Middle Eastern countries for "trial." Which had given EXALT the perfect opportunity to gain some of the most skilled soldiers in the world. Extracting soldiers of that caliber from prisons across the world had been one of the more expensive operations in recent years, but she felt it was worth the cost. It hadn't been hard to convince the men and woman imprisoned of the failings of the United Nations after their hypocrisy was exposed. EXALT hadn't been able to extract every soldier, sadly, but in the end EXALT had gained twenty elite soldiers from the Commander's ranks.

One of them now her husband.

Extracting the Commander himself had been out of the question. But she had received numerous reports from multiple sources that he'd been executed. Perhaps it was for the best; she wasn't sure she would have been able to trust the man to not make an attempt to remove her if he was dissatisfied with her leadership.

All that had led to almost a decade of relative peace where they'd worked planting agents, influencing events and expanding their reach further than ever. The continued globalism and interconnectivity only made things easier to spread their influence.

Then the aliens had invaded.

Although that term felt incorrect. This was less of an invasion and more of an incursion. An invasion would have involved an army marching on Earth with the intent to conquer them. And while she had no illusions as to that being the alien's ultimate goal, there weren't here just to conquer. They had something else in mind, given that they'd hadn't publically revealed themselves until the Hamburg attack. She'd seen their technology, and it was far superior to their own.

If the aliens really wanted to, they could win this war within weeks. But instead they were holding back.

This gave EXALT the best opportunity in decades.

This invasion would be a catalyst for the direction humanity wished to take. They would either unite as one species and defeat the scourge coming to take their world, or they would collapse and the aliens would scatter them to the winds.

Uniting would ultimately solve nothing. The best that could happen is that the aliens would be defeated. But she always looked at the bigger picture and she knew that within years the infighting, squabbles and wars that had plagued humanity since the beginning of time would simply resurface and the cycle would repeat again.

There was only one solution. The world had to be broken, defeated and scattered. The countries and superpowers of the world must descend into anarchy before true unity could come. Humans valued their independence too much for their own good and once they had lost everything, then they would be ready to accept new leadership.

The leadership of EXALT.

This had always been their goal, but there hadn't been a sufficient event that could have brought this about. World War II had been the closest, but their influence hadn't been sufficient to ensure the Axis powers acquired and used nuclear weaponry.

But an alien invasion? There would never be another opportunity like this.

There was only one force that stood in their way: XCOM.

The paramilitary organization had proven to be unexpectedly effective in the war with the aliens. Its small personnel numbers and obscurity had made it almost impossible to effectively infiltrate, forcing them to work with information from aides to the members of the Council.

What she knew for sure: XCOM had between twenty and thirty soldiers, was far beyond them in terms of technology, and that their Commander was surprisingly competent and secretive. What was most interesting to her were reports of tension between this Commander and the Council he reported to. She wouldn't have thought the United Nations would have put someone in charge who wouldn't adhere to their agenda.

Further complicating matters was the unusual secrecy surrounding not just the Commander, but XCOM in general. They was getting their soldiers from somewhere, likely from special forces units across the world, but all of it was conducted in secret. The small number of active soldiers also made it impractical to try and determine which ones had been recruited.

She scowled to herself. There was one high-level operative within the Council of Nations that would be able to answer all these questions, but due increased risk of scrutiny, she'd decreed that he only report in once a year and through pre-recorded messages so as not to blow his cover. He was the culmination of decades of work and there was no way she was going to risk blowing his cover for the sake of more frequent updates. Still, it was irritating in times like these. But the date was coming up soon, so in the meantime, they'd just have to manage.

But they had to defeat XCOM to bring about the fall of the world and unfortunately, they wouldn't be able to do it alone. As much as she hated to admit it, EXALT didn't have the time, resources or technology to defeat XCOM and be able to deal with the aliens after, not to mention dealing with the remaining governments.

So the Families had convened and reached a decision: A temporary alliance with the aliens, who they would direct at XCOM and the United Nations. While the aliens did the hard work, they would learn the secrets of alien technology and go far beyond what XCOM could hope to achieve. When the aliens finally removed the last semblance of organized human government, then they would strike, unite humanity under their leadership and eradicate the aliens.

Rather simplistic, when she thought of it that way. Put into practice, it would be far more complex and fluid, but that was the ultimate goal. They'd reached out to some of the alien doppelgangers EXALT had identified and expressed interest in an alliance. After the destruction of the dreadnaught, they'd received a message back asking for details.

Today was the day they were scheduled to arrive.

Saudia turned as the door hissed open behind her and Ethan walked through with his customary casualness. Her husband did look rather dashing in his dress uniform, which to anyone else, would just appear to a black suit, tie and pants. Not exactly what most assumed to be military attire, though appearances could be deceiving. Every EXALT soldier wore Kevlar-woven pants, combat boots and a concealed breastplate. The suits themselves had been treated as well to be resistant to extreme elements such as fire and acid. It was a hallmark of EXALT to be as professional as possible and that extended to their soldiers as well.

Of course, there was a reason these were their dress uniforms. They were rarely worn into actual combat, EXALT soldiers had actual protection in that case. But when greeting an alien race, dress uniforms were warranted.

Saudia frowned as she took a closer look. "You didn't check your eye." She noted, walking over. Ethan Vyandar, formerly Ethan Delger, raised an eyebrow in mock concern.

"Is it really that noticeable?" He asked in mock exasperation. "I can see fine."

She sighed and reached up to his eye and moved it until it rotated the right way and it fit snug into eye socket. Ethan probably was right, very few would notice, as the mechanical eye was almost identical to the real thing. Well, she noticed and it would bother her the rest of the day if she left it.

Stepping back, she appraised her handiwork. "You can see fine?"

"Perfectly." He confirmed with exaggerated exasperation.

She nodded and smiled. "Excellent. Now I can say you look good."

He inclined his head. "Thank you very much. You look very…" he paused, searching for the word. "Regal."

She smirked at that. It was clearly flattery, though she could see why he chose that particular word. Though remembering how she looked in the mirror, she had to agree that she didn't look that bad. Her own dress uniform consisted of black pants and a long-sleeved close-necked suit.

It complimented her black skin nicely and contrasted well with the red sash that ran up to her right shoulder, displaying nothing but the EXALT logo. On her right shoulder was a red, ceremonial one-shoulder cape that fell to her waist. Highly impractical, but she had to admit it was striking, as with all EXALT attire.

"I should hope so," Saudia answered. "I only wear this thing maybe once a year."

"You should wear it more often," he commented, leaning on the wall and looking her up and down. "It suits you."

It likely did, but she still preferred more practical attire. Well, something to consider once the important work was done. "Do you think I should have put my hair up?" She asked, twisting a strand of raven hair in her finger.

"Nah," Ethan shook his head and walked over to the window overlooking the empty Antarctic wasteland. "If we were going into combat, certainly. But not during a peaceful visitation."

"Agreed." She walked up beside him and they looked out the window together.

He looked at her as she stood by his side. "I hope I didn't interrupt anything important," he said. "You looked rather deep in thought."

She shook her head. "Nothing important, just…reminiscing."

"A fitting time to do so," he agreed, then grew more serious. "Are you ready?" He asked quietly, not looking back outside at the fresh snow.

"Of course," she answered immediately. "We've plotted out every scenario imaginable. But I don't think the aliens will cause trouble."

"Not at first," Ethan amended quickly.

"Not a first," she repeated. "But the Families all agreed that this was the best course of action. If the aliens become hostile, we'll deal with them."

"Who do you think they'll send?" Ethan asked, a curious lilt in his voice. "I somehow doubt the leaders themselves will honor us with their presence."

She smiled in amusement at his snark. "I agree. I suspect they'll send one of those thin men to negotiate."

Ethan snorted. "I know XCOM popularized that particular designation, but I don't think that term can be applied to the latest wave of doppelgängers. The aliens can create realistic humans now, not all of them thin either."

"They may look like humans," Saudia pointed out. "But there's always something distinctly alien about the way they move and speak. But you're right, the aliens have stepped up their tactics. I'll have to consult with the Families to devise measures to reduce infiltration of our own."

"I'm honestly surprised you were able to convince all of them to agree to this in the first place," he commented wistfully. "Matthew, Darian and Hasina of course, but what of the rest?"

"Zara was easy," she explained dismissively with a wave of her hand. "She jumped at the chance to improve our arsenal and technology. Not to mention upgrading the training grounds."

"I'd imagine she also wanted to pit her soldiers against XCOM," Ethan added, nodding. "She's probably ecstatic at the possibility of a legitimate threat."

Saudia had also gotten that impression when talking to the head of the Venator Family. It was an understandable, though dangerous motivation, as her entire job involved overseeing the military arm of EXALT. One which Saudia had regularly avoided using. There were so many other ways to solve problems than just sending soldiers to kill people, something Zara had a difficult time understanding.

"What of Elizabeth and Diguon?" Ethan asked. "After what happened in Germany…"

"Elizabeth failed in Germany because of XCOM," Saudia reminded him. "Focusing on the revenge angle seemed to do the trick. She knows her position is tenuous and this offers her a chance of redemption."

Ethan shook his head as he remembered. "I can't believe she botched the operation that badly. We lost a chance of directly influencing a Council Nation. Now we don't have much of chance since they broke from the Council and work with XCOM directly."

Saudia sighed. "In her defense, I don't think any of us were expecting XCOM to abduct all the protestor leaders. It was…a surprisingly tactical move."

"But they shouldn't have talked," Ethan stated firmly. "That is more concerning than that they were taken in the first place." His jaw tightened. "I've stated repeatedly that it's a mistake to recruit untested civilians. Lo and behold, someone talked and screwed our entire operation there."

"I was there when you gave that speech to her," Saudia remembered as she moved in front of him and leaned into his chest. "You don't need to repeat it."

"Sorry," he apologized, putting his arms around her shoulders, being careful not to bump off her cape which she appreciated. "Alright, what about Diguon? He was the toughest, right?"

"That entire family is difficult," she muttered. "Half of them want an alliance, the other half wants to watch and wait."

"They really should split," Ethan commented as they watched the storm pick up. "The family is too big."

Saudia shook her head. "No. You know the agreement. One family, one continent. If we break up Asia, what would stop the rest of the Families from splitting up every time there is a disagreement? I don't know the solution, but dividing territory isn't the answer."

"If you say so." Ethan was clearly unconvinced, but she let it slide. "Regardless, how did you convince him?"

"Practicality," she answered. "Refusing to go along would put him at odds with the rest of the other families, including the Russian side of his. Combined with XCOM shooting down that dreadnaught in China and forcing a contest for the wreckage, he has enough issues without risking my displeasure."

"I'm impressed." Ethan rested his head on her shoulder. "It's almost a shame no one will know this historic event."

"Flatterer," she chided, turning around and giving him a quick kiss on the cheek. "You're biased."

"Maybe," he shrugged with a smile. "But remember, I served with the Commander. That has to give my opinion some merit."

"Perhaps," she admitted. "Martel is in his room, right?"

He nodded. "Secured and with guards at the door. The aliens won't even know he exists."

She pursed her lips. "Good. Though I'd prefer he wasn't here at all. You explained to him why?"

"I did," Ethan confirmed. "He seemed oddly excited about the whole thing."

"I can sympathize," Saudia said wearily. "But exciting isn't exactly what I wanted to hear from him."

"He's seven," Ethan reminded her. "Give him some slack."

"He's going to succeed me," she countered, her tone hardening. "Which means I'm holding him to a higher standard."

"Well, you can talk to him afterward," Ethan placated holding up his hands. "I'm sure he'll be eager to talk-"

His words were interrupted by a pinging from his wrist. Ethan pressed his wrist communicator and held it to his mouth. "Chief Operative Vyandar, what's the status?"

"Inform the Director we have detected the alien aircraft approaching the designated coordinates." A voice answered.

"Understood," Ethan nodded. "Prepare the welcoming party. The Director will be notified at once." He clicked off the wrist communicator and looked at Saudia grimly. "Showtime."

"Aye," she agreed, striding over to the black leather gloves lying on the table and fitted them on. "Let's hope this goes well."

"Well, I'm quite interested to meet our new alien allies," Ethan countered lightly, then waved a hand toward the door. "After you, Director."

Then both of them walked out the door to prepare for the arrival.

Times like these Saudia was grateful she'd taken the same training regiments her soldiers went through. It certainly made the cold easier to bear, even if the temperatures were sub-zero. At the very least, she wouldn't have to spend nearly a week in these conditions again. But a half-hour at most? Even the lowest soldier could handle that.

The Elite of EXALT stood behind her, twelve of the best men and woman serving in their military division. Each of them at the highest physical form the human body could attain and with at least a dozen operations completed. Once again Saudia was grateful that her family had been blessed with unusual height. Standing at six-foot-three, she was taller than most of the soldiers behind her. A trait that helped emphasize her image and authority as Director.

As they stood stoically behind her, she tried recalling how diverse this unit was. A mentally taxing task if not for the distinguishing bandannas each of them wore concealing the lower half of their faces.

While no longer utilized for such crude means, the use of bandannas had roots deep in EXALT history. Bandannas had first been used in a time when EXALT had acquired much of its wealth through more…uncivilized means. Saudia personally didn't see the need to keep a memento like that alive, though she didn't see a practical reason to end the tradition. Besides, it allowed for some individuality within the ranks.

The first EXALT bandannas had been one solid color with no meaning behind it. Now from a glance, one could tell which continent they were from, which family they belonged to and other decorations of service. It allowed for some interesting combinations. She glanced over at Ethan's blue bandanna with the Vyandar symbol embroidered into the sides.

An American joining the African family wasn't exactly unprecedented, but it had been unusual enough to raise some eyebrows. Intercontinental recruitment was something she was hoping to change in the future. Unfortunately, most of the families tended to recruit from their own continent instead of looking beyond. It was something that she'd tried to normalize when she'd been head of the Vyandar family. Unfortunately, after she'd taken the mantel of Director, Hasina had assumed her position.

She loved her sister, but her views were more…traditional…than she agreed with. A glint in the sky caught her attention and they all watched attentively as the alien craft landed gently in front of them roughly ten meters away.

XCOM called them "UFO's," a clichéd term she felt was grossly unprofessional, though a quick glance at the craft could explain what inspired them to use that archaic word. The craft in front of her was circular and symmetrical as far as she could tell. It wasn't that large either, she suspected it was one of the scout variety.

It emitted a low hum that somehow penetrated the whipping wind and snow, probably an aftereffect of the craft's engine. The shimmering multicolored shield that covered the entrance to the craft suddenly receded and two hulking creatures stepped out. None of her soldiers so much as blinked; they were too disciplined for that, but the creatures were intimidating even from a distance.

They were almost half as tall as the craft itself not counting their ornate headgear. They appeared to stand just over three meters. The crimson armor they wore appeared to cover every vulnerability she could see from a cursory glance. Their faces were obscured by a pointed and spiked helmet that reminded her of the old tribal masks of archaic African tribes.

From what she could tell, these appeared to be an enhanced version of the green armored aliens XCOM had encountered. While the green ones had seemed to her as shock troops, these were the leaders. She wondered if their intelligence had been enhanced as well. A shame the aliens likely wouldn't let them experiment on their subjects.

Four of the hulking aliens walked out and stood symmetrically in front of the entrance, two on each side. Each carried a plasma cannon nearly as tall as her and probably as heavy. Grenades were strapped to their waist and several other weapons were attached to their back, indicating their enormous strength. Scrap the leader theory, these appeared to be the living embodiment of tanks.

The two groups stared at each other, neither making the first move. Saudia didn't mind. Her soldiers would stand their indefinitely until she gave orders, if it was a test of patience the aliens wanted, she would gladly give it to them. She knew the one she was to meet had not yet disembarked.

Sure enough, a new figure stepped onto the white snow. Even though she kept her face a mask of indifference, it was tempting to curl her lip in disgust at the abomination before her. The doppelganger, what XCOM had dubbed a "Thin Man," stood before her. Though this one was different from the suited disproportionate aliens they'd observed.

The alien before her was a near perfect recreation of what an actual well-built human would look like. As tall as her, he was lean and fit, not to mention impeccably dressed. It was similar to the dress uniforms of EXALT in a way. Black pants, dress shoes and a suit with a higher collar than normal. Still, the aliens hadn't been able to entirely erase the discolored spots around his neck.

The face bore a welcoming, almost human smile, though the eyes were concealed by spectacles. She cocked her head slightly as she thought she saw thin blue lines scrolling on the right lens. Information, perhaps? His wavy hair whipped in the wind, but it had clearly been orderly a few minutes ago.

The thin man walked until he reached the front of his entourage, hands folded together in front of him. He glanced briefly at the aliens at his side, then kept walking forward and they fell into step behind him. The alien kept walking until her was directly in front of her.

"Director," the alien greeted in a warm voice as he inclined his head slightly toward her. It was disconcerting how human he sounded. "It is a pleasure to finally meet you."

"The feeling is mutual," she replied cordially and extended a hand. Not missing a beat, the alien took her gloved hand in his bare one. It was a firm handshake, showing that the aliens were at least somewhat familiar with human customs. Inclining her head towards him, she finished. "Welcome to the Bastion."

The alien looked behind her at the impressive snow-covered fortress behind her. The four-storied building, reinforced with steel and stone, housed the brain of all EXALT activity. Dozens of auto-turrets were built throughout the building to be activated at a moment's notice if a hostile army invaded, and a dozen AA guns rested on the roof to shoot them out of the sky.

"I assume that the conditions in there are more hospitable," the alien commented. "I would suggest we move in, Director. We have much to discuss."

On that they agreed. "As you say," she responded and began walking toward the entrance. The alien took a place beside her and kept her pace, all the EXALT soldiers following close behind. The alien soldiers didn't move to follow, instead going back into their craft.

The alien glanced behind him with a disinterested, almost haughty look, then looked forward again. "Tell your soldiers not to follow, our conversation is not for them."

She raised an eyebrow. "They are trustworthy, each and every one of them. Your concern is unneeded."

"I insist," he repeated, smile fading as they approached the entrance as snow whipped around them. "My instructions were to speak to you only. It doesn't matter their qualifications or trustworthiness, those do not supersede my orders."

Fair enough. It wasn't as though she was going to keep what she learned a secret. She'd humor the alien if he wished. "Very well," Saudia conceded, then turning to face her entourage, continued. "Return to your posts, I'll call if needed."

They nodded and left without a word. They knew she could take care of herself if threatened. The door to the Bastion opened and she and the alien walked in together.

They walked noiselessly on the red carpet. Paintings depicting certain events in EXALT's history lined the walls, which the alien kept glancing at as they slowly walked down the hallway. The high ceilings and hanging chandeliers were ornaments more suited for a mansion than a fortress, but EXALT had never held to the idea of mutual exclusivity. "What is your name?" She asked the alien.

"Unimportant," he answered without looking at her. "But you may address me as the Speaker of the Elders."

Ah, useful information already. "The Elders are your superiors, I assume?"

The Speaker wrinkled his nose. "If you would like to use such a…crude…term, yes. Though that is a poor description."

"Then perhaps you could clarify," she suggested. "We are here to learn from each other after all."

"Very well," the Speaker conceded. "Sharing some of our history is permitted. The usage of the word elder doesn't have the same correlation in your language. A better term would be infinite, simply because they have existed for millennia and longer." His tone turned reverent as he continued. "They are not just our superiors, they are our guides, masters and leaders."

He paused in front of a painting and observed it. "I have read your history. Your myths of the Greek and Roman gods were especially intriguing. An apt comparison I suppose, your ancestors lived believing that gods existed and utilized their power to wage war against each other, hidden away in the sky. Ours walk among us and dispense their wisdom freely."

He turned to look at her, his smooth face hard and serious. "I do not believe you comprehend the honor you have received."

She managed to keep her face clear of what she was feeling. She couldn't help but be slightly disappointed by the revelation, at least from this particular alien, that at least some of the alien races appeared to be religious fanatics serving the whims of a select few "gods." These Elders were likely just highly intelligent beings who knew how to breed fanaticism and loyalty.

"I confess," she finally admitted. "I wasn't quite sure our message would reach you."

"Recent events have forced us to…reevaluate," the Speaker admitted, some annoyance in his voice. "Humanity had proven more difficult to subdue than we anticipated."

"Not humanity," she corrected, shaking her head. "XCOM."

"Yes," the alien answered, a slight hiss on the s. "XCOM is an unexpected obstacle. One that we will overcome, along with your help."

"We will do our best to assist against XCOM and the United Nations," Saudia promised. "However-"

"You will need technology," the Speaker finished with a wry grin, not looking at her. "Our technology."

"XCOM has advanced beyond us," Saudia continued, not missing a beat. "If we wish to pose a credible threat, we need to match them."

"Never fear," the Speaker promised. "We will provide you with whatever you desire. The Elders are generous with their allies and are interested in seeing how the enlightened of humanity will utilize them."

That was easy. Far too easy. There was no way the aliens would place unlimited resources at their disposal without some kind of catch. Unless the aliens actually were being truthful and hopelessly naïve. And while she might believe the alien before her was capable of such naivety, she was doubtful the so-called Elders were as well.

"I suspect you want something in return." She responded, clasping her hands behind her back.

"We have only need of your information," the Speaker answered. "The Elders have no need of your wealth, soldiers or weapons. They are also interested in humans with the Gift."

She raised an eyebrow. "The Gift?"

"You have dubbed it as "psionics"," the Speaker clarified. "If you have people who can utilize that power, we would request several to observe and cultivate."

Well that was interesting. But she didn't see the need to quite reveal everything quite yet. "If I may ask a question?"

He looked at her. "You may ask."

"Why have you come?" Saudia asked simply, it was a question she had wondered ever since the incursion started. She didn't entirely expect a satisfactory or straight answer, but she was curious nevertheless.

"Anyone with any amount of intelligence knows you are technologically superior to us in every way," she continued. "Why prolong this war any longer than necessary?"

The Speaker sighed in exasperation. "A disappointingly human question. You fail to see beyond the scope of your own world. You are concerned with only your planet and species," his lip curled in derision. "And judging by your history, not even then. The Elders see beyond the scope of one world, or one solar system. We are not here to enslave, eradicate or conquer. Humanity has enormous untapped potential, the Elders only wish to see that potential come to fruition."

"And your means of accomplishing this is bombing cities and murdering civilians?" Saudia questioned calmly. It was a dangerous line of questioning, but after that explanation, it was a perfectly valid question. Luckily, the alien didn't seem offended.

"I assume you mean the attack in the country of Germany," he answered. "It was a sadly necessary step in reminding XCOM who is truly superior."

Saudia sighed. "I was more referring to the alliance between you and the former Chancellor. Right before your…questionable decisions."

"Ah, yes," the Speaker's lip curled up. "That wasn't us."

Saudia blinked. That wasn't what she had expected. "Is that so? If not you, then who?"

"XCOM," the Speaker stated. "A tactic that even the Elders were surprised at. Not the plan itself, anyone could conceive of it, but that it was executed so thoroughly."

She was skeptical. "Speaker," she began, shaking her head. "With all due respect, I find that hard to believe. XCOM ultimately answers to the United Nations and that kind of operation is one they'd never approve of, even if their own lives were at stake."

"You assume that the Commander of XCOM blindly follows the guidelines of the parent organization," the Speaker chided. "That is not the case."

"I find it hard to believe that the United Nations would appoint someone so willing to go against them," Saudia countered, unconvinced. "It would be…unlike them."

"Hold on to that if you wish," the Speaker shrugged dismissively. "But this Commander is highly intelligent and dangerous. We do not use those terms lightly."

"Do you have anything on the Commander?" Saudia asked. As unlikely as it was, it was worth a shot.

"Nothing concrete," the Speaker answered, his tone subdued. "Infiltrating human organizations is…difficult for us. That is an area in which you are more qualified."

"That is true," she agreed. "And one we will utilize to the best of our ability."

They stood in silence for a few minutes. "I would not be incorrect in assuming your influence is substantial," the alien said. "Your organization would not be worth considering if that was the case, but the Elders are curious as to the…extent of your reach."

A fair question, and one that the alien would not have been able to answer on their own. Still, she was certainly not going to reveal everything to the alien in front of her. "You might say that. EXALT has many operatives stationed across the world. Our directives are carried out through them."

The Speaker rubbed his chin, although it looked more like an imitation of what a human would do. "I would guess that you primarily station your operatives in the various governments and militaries," he mused quietly. "Is that right?"

"Nearly," she answered, glancing over at him. "Though we don't limit ourselves to stationing operatives in such predictable places. Many are placed in mundane positions whose job is to watch and report. Too many high-level operatives draw unwanted scrutiny."

"I see," the Speaker answered. "A wise move, though there must be some who you control."

"Manipulate," she corrected. "And yes, there are some nations where our operatives are highly placed."

"In a position to eventually take over?" The Speaker asked, looking at her curiously.

"No," she denied. "We avoid direct control of countries and companies. EXALT works from behind the scenes. Anyone with too much influence draws scrutiny from not just their own nation, but the surrounding ones as well. Should they become exposed, not only is EXALT at risk, but our entire operation there as well. An exposed aide or advisor can be replaced, the head of a nation is much harder."

"A methodical and intelligent approach," the alien commented, his lip curling up in a mockery of a smile. "You understand patience, the Elders chose well."

Saudia suppressed a snort. But they'd talked enough about EXALT's operations, time to go to more practical matters for this alliance. She spun on her heel and gestured for the Speaker to follow. "Come. I have something I believe you'll find interesting."

He stayed by her side, looking around constantly as if trying to memorize every single detail. Saudia didn't mind, the superficial decorations and furniture provided no tactical advantage and even the layout would be useless as the unique structure of the Bastion made it possible to reconfigure corridors and hallways, rendering schematics nearly useless.

"Can you provide us with human subjects?" She asked as they walked. "It would be possible to acquire them ourselves, but that would take time."

"We would be able to spare some," the Speaker agreed. "We would need to coordinate more to find a village with enough specimens to satisfy you." Saudia blinked. That hadn't exactly been what her request was, she had assumed the aliens could spare some from those they had gathered from earlier abductions. However, she wouldn't turn down a small village of subjects.

They finally reached the holding cells. The lower floor currently contained twenty-four cells that had formerly held test subjects. Sadly, many of the subjects had died during the catalyst experiment, but the results had been worth it. She motioned the Speaker over to one of the cells containing a woman huddling in the corner, not knowing she was being watched.

The Speaker frowned. "What is this?"

"This," Saudia answered proudly. "Is Subject Four, the result of years of testing." She watched the woman through the one-way glass as she rocked on the floor, clutching her head. Saudia picked up a tablet that controlled the shock device implanted in her spine. Provoking her should do the trick, her abilities were tightly intertwined with her emotions at this point so the more unstable, the better chance of a demonstration. She disliked inflicting unnecessary pain on her prisoners, but this case was warranted.

The woman screamed as the device shocked her and writhed on the floor. It wasn't a high voltage, so it had the effect of simply making the woman pained and angry. She shakily rose to her feet and looked at one of the windows. "What do you want?" She shouted, fists clenched as she tried directing her bloodshot eyes at her tormentors. "Aren't you happy with what you did to me?"

Saudia frowned. Ranting wasn't what she wanted. She administered another shock which sent the woman to her knees twitching and shuddering. The Speaker didn't seem amused. "Is there a point to this?" He demanded, looking at her in annoyance.

"Just wait," Saudia promised.

"Stop!" The woman screamed, shouting at her in the right direction. Her voice became layered as if multiple people were speaking at once. "Please stop! Get out of my head!" With her final words, a visible wave of purple energy emanated from her, pushing all the objects around her away. Her eyes were now glowing purple orbs that leaked a fine purple mist. Her face contorted in pain a few seconds later and she fell to the ground clutching her head and crying.

She looked over to the Speaker and was pleased to see an expression of awe on his face. "She has the Gift," he whispered.

"She does," Saudia confirmed. "And we have three more just like her."

"The Elders will be pleased," he said reverently. "I wish to see them."

"I will show you," Saudia promised, inclining her head. "Then we can discuss the finer points of our alliance."

"An excellent plan," the Speaker agreed enthusiastically. "I believe this alliance will be beneficially for both our organizations."

"I'm pleased to hear that," Saudia thanked, hiding her true thoughts. She motioned down the hall of the other cells. "Right this way."