storm turmoil

--Data Cannister 355: Analysis and outcome of later usage of the Quasi-Psionic Biometric scanning device commonly referred to as the 'Alien Mind Probe' and discussion of it's likely methods of origin and operation. Technical details sequestered from Archives and where appropriate, from the files of the Zager institue for Psionic advancement Report on Artefact classified Catalogue XCRAA 132MP. This device, erroneously referred to as the 'Alien Mind probe', is visually characterised as a Blue sphere, approximately six inches in diameter, with no outward distinguishing marks, save for the fact that it's surface defies characterisation as any known material, and has an as yet undefined texture. The misidentification of the artefact as a mind probe is a relatively simple mistake undoubtedly caused by the nature of it's operation. While the exact mechanisms were at first suspect, the actual empirical data gathered by the device is limited largely to relatively simple biometric information, and is rendered unique only by the novel method of it's readout to the user. To utilise the device, physical contact or extremely close proximity of the user's nervous tissue to the device is required: The wearing of gloves or armour gauntlets will not impede usage of the device, but seperation of more than approximately 15mm between the subjects tissues and the device will break contact, regardless of the intervening medium. Conversely, below that 'threshold' distance, even plates of densified metals such as lead sheet or boron composites will not cause loss of contact. When the device is first handled, and to a lesser extent on subsequent handlings, the user is reported to experience a sensation of itching or other disconfort such as localised pins and needles in the tissues in contact with the device, usually the fingers and thumbs. This sensation is not always present in all cases. It is theorised that this discomfort is actually an acclimatisation to the device, and may in fact be a symptom on the part of the user as much as one triggered by the device. The second stage of use involves directing the device at a possible subject. Using a variety of sophisticated scanning methods, including some already known to human science, though greatly refined, and others with no overt connection to any existing human science or technology, a large volume of biometric data is gathered in a very short space of time, and processed into a distinct format optimised for rapid assessment. This is the point at which the device displays it's true mystery, and the reason it was erroneously labeled. Rather than utilise a visual, audio, or other indirect sensory pickup, the device uses Quasi-Psionic technology to relay the information directly into the user's brain in the form of artificially structured short term memory engram sequences. This leads to the sensation of already 'knowing' all the data the device has harvested. This process is so subtle, that it may not be immediately noticed, and the resulting knowledge may only be picked out from 'real' memeories by it's lack of an apparent origin. (this can include the sensation of 'flashbacks' similar to the phenomena reported by some formed users of hallucinogenic drugs, or a feeling of 'deja vu'). It is possible for this data to be consciously processed so long as attention is properly focused. Upon 'accessing' the data, the relevant information is immediately available to the user in the form of direct sensory/memory data, including artificial visual, olfactory, audio, and other stimuli recreated by direct stimulation of the approriate sensory cortex. In effect, the user can 'see', 'smell', 'hear', 'touch', taste' and 'feel', the subject in their own mind. It is suspected that there are other sensory mechanisms stimulated by the device that are not affected in humans due to lack of development in the approriate areas, or because of divergent evolution. The device updates all this information in real time, for as long as the device is held, and the subject is retained in focus. Line of sight is not always necessary for acquisition of subjects. In some cases, subjects can be acquired spontaneously without conscious effort on the part of the user. The mechanism behind this is unclear. In certain cases, more data than the usual biometric data can be acquired. This seems to vary by user. In all cases, use of the biometric data can reveal large amounts of information, not only about a subjects physical state, but also their psychological state, by picking up on unconcious physical cues. It is possible, for example, to determine whether a test subject is lying with a high degree of accuracy by analysis of heart rate, respiration frequency, neural activity, perspiration, sensory activity, muscular response and neurotransmitter levels. It is also a valuable medical diagnostic tool, able to analyse and diagnose many injuries and diseases through their effect on body processes in a safe, non invasive manner. These applications make this device a very versatile commodity which may prove to be a real boon in the fields of criminalistics and medicine. However, caution is advised, as the device has already found its way into illicit activities before ever leaving the site of it's first recovery. In one instance, the unit was used as a means of perpetrating scams between troopers, wherein large sums of money were fleeced from soldiers in an elaborate scheme involving a degree of showmanship and the use of this device to influence the outcome by analysing players bodily reactions. This apparently went unnoticed until the scheme failed to work for a reason that was, at the time, inexplicable (reference file PSIPL356: latent psionic ability and subconscious active psionic damping). The second, and from an objective point of view, more morally damaging incident involved use of the device as a non-invasive 'remote viewing' device that could actively create sensory images of distant subjects which could then be replayed to another user. In this instance, the areas under remote surveilance included the female locker rooms and restrooms on site, and the device in question changed hands on a regular basis, with users 'competing' to see who could get the 'best' ( ie, most explicit or embarassing) images from said locations. This particular activity was broken up by a planted sleeper within the ranks of the troopers, who blew the whistle on the whole affair and brought the missing device forward. The names of those involved (both perpetrators and victims) and the name of the agent who broke the ring are classified at security level X-Ray. As the origins of this device are difficult to determine, due to the possibilities of it arising either as a medical, pyschological, observational or even as a loyalty testing tool, the exact methodology of use as practiced by the aliens is hard to attempt to classify. It is known that Alien scout missions routinely carried this device, and it is also commonly reported that it is often recovered from terror sites and abduction sites also. This may indicate it's purpose on those missions is primarily as a means of assessing the lifeforms they come into contact with. The mechanism of the device is *** Subject Classified security level PSI-Z*** and is not thought to be reliant on any psionic abilty on the part of the user. The power behind the mechanism is, as with most alien technology, Elerium based, in this case operating in conjunction with a chemical-organic compund that may be bio-engineered for this purpose. Analysis of this compund shows existence of long chain organic molecules and a quasi-proteinaceous structure arising that bears resemblance to simplified nervous structures. This structure is not permanent, and changes over time. When the device is in use, the structure seems to 'solidify' and remain relatively constant, and it may be that this liquid is the base of a self programming organic computer, literally a liquid 'brain' that can dissolve and recreate portions of it's structure at need. This fits well with the observed nature of Alien technology, their prevalence of organic processing wetware within their ships, and the rumours of a controlling 'brain' that guides their actions. To conclude, I must request that information on this subject be held confidential until this matter can be properly debated by meeting of the chief commisioners. Certainly, the demands for release of the technology by legal profession and medical representatives should not be rejected out of hand, but at the same time, great care must be taken to address the possible repercussions of release of such technology, particularly considering the ramifications the use of such devices by criminal, corrupt or disloyal parties may bring about. END TRANSCRIPT. NOTE: Following the submission of this report, the vote by the council was unanimous to bar the release of this technology to the general public, or to any but military medical facilities. This was vetoed and was intended to go to a recount, but before the council could be reconvened, more than half of the council were impeached on grounds of scandal. Later investigation found that a quarter were blackmailed into resigning or chose to take 'early retirement' on the grounds of stress or ill health. The scandalous pictures made the tabloids for weeks after, though no paperazzi would admit to taking the pictures, and no culprit was ever found. Those involved denied the charges strenuously, but the weight of evidence counted against them. The first Medical MP-Scanner went into operation at a private clinic in California 2 months later

New post added concerning Warlords one on one encounter with an orange furred nightmare...I couldn't resist. If it's not acceptable, I'll edit, but I figured it was kind of inevitable...

Warlord's reflexes reacted faster than his mind, the muscle memory instilled by his training and the instant reaction born of raw instinct pulled his legs out from under him before he could realise what was happening, and he collapsed to the tarmac like a puppet with his strings cut, feeling the displacement of air as the orange blur passed above him by mere inches, it's leap powering it far over him, and taking it far past him. Warlord realised that leap was actually supposed to have been a crushing charge, and as he rolled over, he saw the beast frantically trying to correct it's overshoot, skidding across the asphalt of the gas station forecourt, it's claws tearing hideous gouges into the black roadway in a frenzied attempt to slow it's momentum, before it lost it's precarious control of it's balance and went rolling end over end into the brick wall of the forecourt kiosk, causing a muffled thump and a slight wheezing gasp of powdered mortar to be scattered, such was the force of the impact. Warlord regained his feet rapidly, bullying his cannon back round and into position, determined not to lose the opportunity. The beast was already climbing back to it's clawed feet, apparently non the worse for a direct collision with a solid brick wall at a speed that would have turned a human into a sticky red stain on said wall. Warlord planned to change that, and soon. He glanced at the torn and rent tarmac that marked the passage of the hurtling beast's mad, out of control charge, and was gratified to see the faintest traces of crimson added to the dark black of the roadway, where one claw had dug too deep and broken off, spreading alien blood in a small slick puddle. Warlord faintly remembered one of the ancient driver's ed video's he'd once been shown. The title seemed more than usually appropriate for this scene. " Red Asphalt...one of my favourites" Warlord announced to himself over the clanking of his autocannon spinning up. Just as the Beast began a second charge, the deadly weapon hit firing rotation, and Warlord pulled the trigger. The beast, already accelerating, suddenly began to lose speed as Warlord turned the cannon on it like a hose, spraying volleys of Armour piercing rounds at a speed sufficient to make a human look like he'd been caught in a blender, and with much the same effect. On the beast, the effect was more subdued, but definately still the same. Warlord Grinned. Some things always worked. The beast slowed under the pressure of the incoming fire, the shells ripping into it with pulverising effect. Warlord kept the trigger held down, and the beast's mad rampage slowed. Ten yards from Warlord, it finally got the message that it was being hurt, and made the decision to leap sideways. Warlord's reflexes once more reacted before his mind, his finely trained frame pivoting with the cannon, maintaining the volume of Armour piercing slugs being spayed at the beast. Then Warlord's mind caught up with his reflexes, as did his sight. And what they told him was twofold. One, that the armour piercing slugs were overkill in this case, and were overpenetrating the incredibly tough but unarmoured beast badly. Two, that His shift in aim had now caused his badly overpenetrating fire to be directed at a target directly in front of a group of petrol pumps, most of which still had fuel, and one of which was even still inserted in the filler pipe of a car's gas tank. Warlord Never saw the explosion. The moment he'd comprehended what was going on, he'd thrown himself backwards as hard as he could, still firing, and hoping against hope that he'd not hit a gas tank, and that the beast was either too far gone to continue it's attack, or too stupid to remember the same dodge and would again miss. He didn't hear the explosion either, except as a sudden starnge abscence of all sound. He felt as much as heard the dull wet thump of the beast's corpse as the force of the blast threw it over his body and sent it arcing onto the asphalt a dozen or so feet away. He certainly felt the heat of the initial blast as it passed over him, and fortunately his reflexes reacted in time again for him to hold his breath to avoid inhaling flames or smoke. Still he felt the telltale itch of singed hair and eyebrows, and the too-warm grip of his cannon as it grew hot. Shuffling away as fast as he could, moving like a crab on his back, shoving with his legs, dragging his cannon by the end of it's sling, he slowly shuffled away from the now burning gas station. He let himself move for what he thought was a couple of dozen feet, and then risked opening his eyes. the sudden lack of flames burnin his eyes away told him he was far enough away from the fire, at least for now, and he painfully climbed to his feet. He was a mess, that much was certain, his skin red and painful, like sunburn on steroids, and a tentative touch to his forehead told him that his eyebrows were indeed burned away. " Funny things, eyebrows. You never miss 'em till they're gone..." He thought to himself. He was lucky to have got away so lightly, he suspected. He was lucky his extra ammo hadn't cooked off, lucky he'd been as far from the blast as he was, lucky he'd reacted in time, throwing himself flat, and holding his breath, allowing the blast to pass over him. And still he looked like hell, he thought, but then a smile came to his face. " Yeah", he thought, glancing round, finding the sticky red mass that was all that was left of the beast he'd been fighting, the force of the blast having thrown it into the concrete hard enough to reduce it to nothing more than a mass of pulped tissue and shattered bones; "but you should have seen the other guy". It was then that Ki-Tat rounded the corner from the Tyre store, it's forefront now burning, but the building itself still not alight as yet. Warlord sighed with relief. Ki-Tat must have come to assist once he heard the Autocannon fire, but hadn't counted on the petrol station explosion. Luck, it seemed, was on Ki-Tat's side though, as Evidently, the solidly built tyre store had shielded Ki-Tat from the worst of petrol station blast. Ki-Tat moved up to warlord, and it was then that Warlord realised that Ki-Tat was flapping his mouth incessantly, but no sound was coming out...or... Warlord Groaned...the blast must have done that much for him as well. He cupped a hand behind his ear, and manged to say " I can't hear you" He saw Ki-Tat cup a hand behind his ear and realised he was in the same boat.

Something to bear in mind is that the diving we're talking about may well be far below the scope of any military op diving carried out, and the technological differences may make their experience essentially worthless. once the action gets below a couple of hundred meters, all the bets are off regarding military ops- nobody will have done it, because there's no possible reason for a surface military to do so. By that depth, we'll also be getting to the depths where gas breathing won't be an option, and we'll have to start using oxygenated Perfluourocarbon liquid breathing apparatus- and again, there's no possible reason any military operative, with the possible exception of submarine crew (and then only through their emergency training) to have any useable experience. Essentially, below a few dozen feet, the ocean is the next best thing to a totally alien environemt as it's possible to get on Earth. This means that our current crew will actually have the edge over the military hotshots in that they at least have the experience of deepdiving using unusual, possibly custom built gear that's on the bleeding edge of experimentality.

We don't need an alternative to Elerium and Zrbite, just alternatives to dependaent items...or the parts of them dependant on Elerium or Zrbite to function. Gauss doesn't require Zrbite anyway, and it's supposed to be a partial plasma weapon spin off, so presumably, it is possible to run alien type weapons without Elerium or Zrbite, with an increase in hardware and bulk, and a decrease in efficiency. as a result, what X-com might be selling is not the full powered alien tech items, but earth tech duplicates that aren't anywhere like as powerful, but don't require Elerium or Zrbite (or synthetic elerium) Example: Magnetic plasma accelerators rather than Anti-gravity plasma accelerators. The units are ten times the size and weight, and only generate the same basic effect as an alien heavy plasma, but the tech and power is there. Of course, they aren't much use for X-com, since plasma won't work underwater, and they're too big to mount on anything short of a main battle tank, but any government worth it's salt would want them for their military's armour forces. possible? it could go some way to providing for X-coms cash flow, and it might provide an inspiration for the weapon research (or be inspired by it- even if somethings no good to x-com,if they can sell it, cash is cash)

Aquaplastics don't require alien technology, and they have the potential to be the biggest earner. This is a point, in which case it might be even better for us to make an even bigger payoff from the metals industries by NOT releasing Aquaplastics!

There's not enough money in the TFTD world in general to allow for it, basically. Despite the fact that it's not brought to peoples attention as much, sea-going trade generates a lot more money than might be thought, despite the existence of air freight. With sea trade effectively crippled by the USO threat, there's that much less money in the world in general. a smaller world eceonomy means less money for X-com to skim. basically, x-com is going to have to become self funding and rather fast as well, or it'll simply fall apart. as for registering the patents...we don't know that's safe. Even today, some countries, (China for one) openly reject patent law and actively search through patent records for technologies to copy. They copy the registered designs, and use them. the trouble is, because they haven't signed the patent laws themselves, they aren't doing anything illegal. The owner of the patent has no recourse, even though his ideas are being used without consent. Intel tried to stop the chinese government using copies of it's chips a couple of years back, and was told in no uncertain terms 'NO!'. They wanted to try legal action, only to find there was no possible legal action to take... Now, while for mundane items that may be an acceptable risk, for weapons grade gear, that's simply going to be unacceptable. The Commodore wouldn't let something like that go. For one thing, it could completely disrupt the worlds stability dynamic completely. Even selling to legitimate governments, you have to consider the knock on effects. the other thing is, how could we release the patent for items that require recovered alien items to manufacture? and then there's the Zrbite issue. needless to say, releasing even a whiff of the existence of MC technology would probably get X-com censured for the same reason the anti Psionic laws came in.

One thing to consider is if any of the proposed anti-alien groups that might buy wepons from x-Com have any ties to X-com. After all, despite the whole inquisitor thing, it is possible that some AW1 vets will be involved or behind such groups. This expands the argument considerably, because current X-com memebers may be able to vouch for their intentions somewhat. If this is the case, they may also be able to use prior knowledge of X-coms past weapons sales as leverage to influence it happening again. Granted, the commodore will likely be against it. But if it comes down to sitting on the weapons and starving, or passing them on to AW1 vets with traceable credentials, what will she choose. There's also the issue of non-military alien hardware and esoterica. while weposn are trouble, are things like aqua plastics less so? Is aqua plastic armour a viable sale to security firms, and likewise thermal shock gear? Is it acceptable to sell vibroblade technology and even sonic detonators to the mining industries?

Short answer...there's nothing worth stealing yet. Unless and until there is an actual, positive benefit to infiltration, it's not really likely to be an issue. give it a few months first. Once the tech boys start putting together new toys like Gauss weapons, and they've been seen on a few terror raids, that's when to give it some thought

edit: I changed the post completely, I wanted to retain the feeling of strife between David and Zager, but I leave that in your hands now. Accounting Troll needs to make a minor edit to his post (Zager has still made an outburst, just not the same one.)

Edited. I've now openly pinned that on some of his more worshipful followers (and you know there would be some) that was actually the intent from the start but I got lost in the big picture. I never saw Zager as being immoral or sociopathic over this, just blinkered and not taking a full interest in the activities of those he's working with. In my mental script for this, several posts down the road, I had planned to have tension over it build until it finally came out that what had actually happened was that Zager had said " Get Brown any way you can" (with appropriate psionic undertones) and some of his underlings took him way, way too seriously, leaving Zager with an almighty guilt hangover and a big period of self doubt to get over, as well as potentially a bunch of badly brain-burned minions. In the meantime, Zager, even though he hadn't actually done it himself, would take the responsibility and Blame for it, because he had caused it to happen by not being careful enough. Brown Blamed him simply because he assumed Zager would go that far to get what he wanted, and because Zager hadn't made a point of hiding what he wanted to do about David's brain, even if he hadn't intended to do so right away... Unfortunately, as Happens a lot, I got lost in the details and didn't realise that what I could understand, other people didn't have all the clues to grasp. This is why I don't make use of other peoples characters very often...I lose myself in the details.

David Brown waited as the elevator slowly descended into the depths of what he supposed would be his knew home for the forseeable future. For yet another time, he was entering a secret base, and it wasn't funny. He'd spent most of his adult life up iuntil his thirites trapped in Xcom bases. Then the alien war had ended. Now It seemed it was starting up again, and he was back in another X-Com base... It was almost like coming home. just like old times. well, not exactly like old time...the other bases had been on land, but close enough. Certainly the Hardware wasn't any different. The elevator could have been the same one form Pine Gap. As the the doors slid open at the base of the shaft, he found himself trooping into the open corridor, only to be confronted by a nervous looking technician. " Uh, Mr Brown, sir?" " Just David, please." " Uh, right, well, I was told to escort you to the living quarters so you can ditch your gear, and then take you over to Workshop one..." " Don't waste any time, do you?" David asked rhetorically, " lead on" the trip to the living quarters was an eerie exercise in deja vu. the layout was different, but the base facilities were so standardised the resemblance was spooky. Dumping his carryall on the bunk apparently allocated to him - as at Pine Gap, engineering staff got short shrift on living space, and David could tell his back was going to protest climbing up to the upper bunk unless he could get the allocation changed. Then it was off to workshop one. It was like walking back into the past. He was different, though, now, instead of him being the newcomer, looking up to the other engineers, he was the one the newcomers were looking up to. He glanced around the assembled faces. " What's all this gawping at?" Came a voice from outside the workshop's far exit, and David froze. He knew that voice... " You" Zager exclaimed. David smiled nastily. He and Zager had never seen eye to eye. " Yes, me. Which other mug did you think they'd drag in?" Zager was about to say something, but apparently thought better of it, and instead left, not deigning to dignify Brown's question with an answer. " You know Professor Zager?" one of the technicians asked. " Yes, unfortunately. We worked together during the last Alien war. I just hope this doesn't cause trouble." David answered. * * * Around the corner, Zager was smiling. it was a small, triumphant smile. " At least I don't have to worry about incompetent engineering staff..." He muttered. He had issues with Brown, but the man's ability with machines was not one of those issues. Zager allowed his mind to slip once more into the realm of mathematics as his wheelchair slowly trundled along the corridor. * * * David Brown was lying awake in his bunk long after lights out. One of the minor benefits age had brought was needing less sleep. In his case, he'd gone from needing a bare minimum four or five hours a night to averaging three at best. But the curfew was strictly imposed. Non duty staff were in bed by lights out, no exceptions. That left him lying awake, and trying his best not to let his memories overwhelm him. How many friends had been made -and lost- in the last war? how many were gone forever? And did their sacrifice mean a damn thing, if the damn bastards were back? alone in the dark, he had no answer. All he knew for sure was that from now, on, all the battles would be in the dark, in the depths where man hadn't stepped before. Who knew what these new aliens were capable of, their only known intention seeming to be a drive to bring terror from the deep.

Hi. Me again, do you think I could bring David Brown back into the picture as an engineering consultant? ( check the Ufo fanfic.) After all, as a veteran of the original alien conflict and with experience of alien technology, his insight could be valuable. of course, he'll be getting on a bit, but as long as he stays in the workshops, that should be ok, unless the base gets raided... besides, the thought of him and Zager arguing over old times is priceless! so: Name: David Brown Controlled by: Storm Turmoill Joined X-Com : original Alien war Position: Engineer Current assignment: in transit Status: still alive Age: 66 Nationality: former United Kingdom. Appearance: Hair: still red, darkening to drown at the roots. eyes: brown, hidden behind tinted glasses. 6'3" tall. Prominent burn scars on left hand and arm Formerly hunted down by X-Inv agents during the early stages of the first Alien war, David Brown was picked out for being an alleged alien abuction victim. What X-Inv (later X-Com) didn't know was that his alleged abduction was really a fake. What he himself didn't know was that his abduction being fake was fake... What X-com later managed to piece together was that he was a test subject apparently targeted exclusively by Sectoids in one of a series of experiments concealed not only from the subject via chemical memory suppression -rather than the more usual, and usually more reliable Psionic methods used- , and from human observers, but also from their supposed superiors the Ethereals. The exact nature of the experiments is unknown, but it is suspected by many- including fellow alien war veteran scientist Patrick Zager- that it was an attempt to create weapons for use not only against humans, but also against other alien species as well, most particularly Ethereals. This is suspected because of Brown's unusual psionic potential...or rather lack of it. Brown is not only incapable of the most basic psionic phenomena, including ones normally requiring no native latent psionic potential at all, but is also completely immune to the effects of outside psionic activity as well, rendering him a kind of psionic 'dead zone'. As such, he is somewhat of the antithesis of Zager, as humanities greatest known psionic. However, he refused to cooperate with Zager's psionic research in the matter, and tension between the two remains high, though both concede the prescence of a common enemy. In terms of actual contributions, Brown played a somewhat haphazard role in the adaptation of several alien weapons during the first war, including the use of alien plasma weapons. he was also involved in development of Earth analogues to Alien technologies. While not a combat trooper, David did take part in the Cydonia expedition as field armourer, although he stayed with the avenger spacecraft and did not take part in combat. David's greatest asset is his mechanical intuition. While he doesn't have a great head for mathematics or even basic physics, he has an almost instinctive way with machines, which ocaisionally allows him to make wild leaps of logic about otherwise unfathomable machines. He also has knack for fake artefacts, both spotting them and fabricating them, and was an important part of the first alien war spin control team.

To clear up some details from hte description. 1: The pseudo-space capability was added purely because it is theoretically possible to mount Avalanches on FireStorms/Lightnings/Avengers, therefore, I added a limited space capability, assuming that the interception craft can get it there. I never meant for it to be capable of reaching orbit unassisted. I guess I wasn't too clear on this. Basically, it's just so that if we felt the need, and X-com needed a space weapon, but didn't have any lasers/Plasmas/fusion ball launchers ready, they could throw on an Avalanche 2: The multiple guidance systems were there purely to explain the fact that in-gane, Avalanche is more accurate than Stingray. Why? I asked? Well, because it has a bigger onboard guidance package and a bunch of telemetry stuff on the intercept craft, was the answer I thought up. 3: The cavitating profile of the launchers was only meant to explain why the 'barrels' of the launchers didn't cause massive drag for such a large aperture. (the same way that open-muzzle folding fin rocket pods have open 'barrels' but don't generate the level of drag that would be expected. They do generate some drag, but not as much as they would normally, because of some clever airflow dynamics techniques) 4: The only weapon in the battlescape that can damage UFO walls is a Nuclear weapon, the blaster bomb, which is a pocket fusion nuke (and, presumably, a clean one, using Alien technology.) In the Geoscape, Cannons can (depleted uranium kinetic penetrators?), Missiles can (Nuclear warhead?) and of course lasers, and plasma cannons can. The Fusion ball launcher is simply the blaster bomb's bigger brother, so of course it can. perhaps one of the reasons that X-com is so desperate to lay hands on Alien Technology is so they can Stop having to use Nuclear weapons on the UFOs! well, it'd be just one more thing for Genega to stress over.

The UFOPEDIA entry for the Avalanche states it's Nuclear (or it would if it hadn't been covered; I have seen an uncovered set of screens, however), and more than that, it's got enough destructive power to make it just under half as powerful as the Fusion Ball launcher, Which is definately Nuclear (and super Nuclear, too; it's powered by Elerium Antimatter reactions). Add to that it's powerful enough to damage UFO hulls which, let's not forget, are tough enough to withstand all manner of grief, including re-entry heat and plasma weapons fire (theoretically; you make your own ships tough enough to withstand your own weapons), and it makes for a fairly convincing case that Avalanche is Tactical Nuclear. The only real questions in my mind are whether I underpowered it, and whether Stingray is similarly Tactical Nuclear. (I'm wondering if Stingray shouldn't be the 1 kiloton version, and Avalanche 2 or 3 kilotons) As opposed to Strategic Nuclear. Even I don't think X-Com would be given access to Strategic assetts, except in a worst case scenario. As for other countries opposing this...well, it's this or leave the UFO's alone. We've already written into the fic that aircraft can drop over a dozen convetional missiles on a UFO without doing damage, so what does that leave? Fallout is going to be minimal and very wide scattered with a low yield tactical device. Radiation isn't going to be an issue unless fired into the ground (most of the radiation would be charged particles, which would be stopped by atmospheric absorption way before it got to ground level) and EMP will be small scale and localised. Again, unless you're firing at the ground, it just isn't going to be close enough to affect anything. And X-Com is supposed to have access to the most powerful weapons Earth has to offer. While there might be political unhappiness over using Nuclear weapons, it's more likely that they would have permission to do so, albeit grudging. Now, if they start hitting the ground, where they can affect civilians, that attitude is likely to change. Besides, X-Com is Supposed to be unpopular for all sorts of reasons. It's not too hard to imagine this could be one of them.

well, as an Ease in to this, my description for that oh so underappreciated and yet absolutely indispensable piece of equipment, the Avalanche missile system. A seeming Anachronism harking back the bad old days of the cold war, and the rampant paranoia over the 'bomber gap' The Avalanche missile system is a long range large scale tactical engagement weapon system designed to give a single interceptor aircraft the hitting power to engage significantly superior numbers of enemy aircraft in formation. The sytem itself consists of three basic componenets: The Avalanche telemetry and Guidance package mounted in the Aircraft, the Launcher, and the individual Missiles. The Guidance package incorporates Radar, Infra-red and laser targeting systems with a digital encrypted datalink with the Avalanche missile's onboard guidance computer, allowing all-aspect engagements and the neutralisation of most passive and active countermeasures by means of cycling between sensor systems and 'weeding out' unwanted interference from any single spectrum. Simply put, to spoof an Avalanche, a target has to be able decoy Radar, Laser and infrared signals simultaneously and with perfect synchronicity, or else the system's sensor discriminators will disregard the decoy signals. The launch system is an aerodynamically streamlined pod that can house up to three Avalanche Missiles while it's advanced cavitating profile limits drag to an absolute minimum. Each Launcher is hardened to withstand both shrapnel and fragment damage, and Electromagnetic pulse, an important consideration in view of the destructive Avalanche ordnance onboard. The Avalanche missiles themselves mount a high thrust composite liquid fuel rocket motor with a steering system built around three low-mass gyoscopes housed within the midsection of the missile. This allows the missile to be used not only in atmosphere, but also in space, or as an Anti-Sattelite (A-SAT) weapon. The missiles remarkable destructive power is a controversial topic; in order to achieve it's stated aim of stand-off destruction against numerically superior opponents, the Avalanche missile mounts either a one kiloton, two kiloton or five kiloton tactical Nuclear warhead. While controversial merely due to the word Nuclear, the current Aavalanche warheads are high yield Clean weapons, with absolutely minimal radiation release on detonation and no fallout. While this hasn't prevented widescale dislike of the system due to ingrained prejudices, it is acknowledged that Avalanche is the single safest application of Nuclear technology to date due to multiply redundant safety systems. It was all of these factors that brought this impressive weapon system to the attention of X-Com, particularly in view of the limited results achieved with conventional ordnance agains the seemingly untouchable UFO hull alloys; The first engagement made using AVALANCHE, armed with a one kiloton warhead, proved conclusively that not only were the UFO's not invulnerable, but that X-Com had chosen wisely in it's selection for a long range weapon system capable of engaging and destroying UFOs at extreme range.

Zager's roughly right on the plasma and Lasers. you can see very powerful lasers travelling in air becasue of scattering due to atmospheric molecules. What colour depends on what wavelength of light the laser uses, slightly altered by travelling through the atmosphere and being reflected by atmospheric molecules. you can even see 'invisible' Infrared or Ultraviolet lasers a little this way, and the more powerful the laser, the more it happens. about the only issue with seeing the laser is that you wouldn't be seeing the beam, but rather, because of persistence of vision, you'd being seeing the scattering of where the beam had just been. Current lasers are getting to the point where we can't really decry X-com's laser rifles as impractical anymore. while we aren't down to rifle sized, we are at the stage where a tank, plane or other vehicle mounted laser can put enough energy on a target in a millisecond pulse to vapourise titanium. Plasma is a fourth stage of matter above Gas, in which the extreme temperature has caused the atoms to break up into subatomic particles ( the Nuclei of the gas form Ions, and the free the electrons). because it consists of charged particles, plasma can be contained and accelerated magnetically. (which may be how X-com duplicates the alien weapons; the aliens use Elerium powered Gravitic accelerators to fire a pulse of superheated plasma: Xcom could use a magnetic accelerator as a stand-in) Plasma is coloured dependant on the constituent elements involved. (the aurora borealis or Northern lights is a plasma effect; the pink is from oxygen being inonised into plasma by cosmic rays, which gets trapped along the Earth's magnetic field, the green by ionised Nitrogen that similarly is trapped. Lightning is likewise a plasma effect. Pink lightning is caused when large amounts of Oxygen are ionised simultaneously and all release their light at once) so green plasma bolts is entirely feasible. Like Zager says, though, the radiation release on any plasma weapon would be pretty extreme, because as plasma consists of charged particles, which is what most radioactivity is a form of, anything hit with a plasma pulse would simultaneously suffer a powerful physical impact, searing heat, electrostatic shock, and charged particle radiation sent sleeting through their body. Note that the user mightn't get off so well either; the weapon might have a shielded barrel, but you still catch some rads from firing. not to mention the recoil would be pretty hefty too. now as for killing everyone in two hundred feet, no. give em a few rads towards cancer, certainly, but at the plasma volumes and energies a portable plasma accelerator would require (this is not a fusion cannon; fusion is a whole different kettle of fish), the radiation would be relatively low level (no gamma rays, just beta and alpha particle equivalents from charged particles leaking, and those two have relativley low penetrating power and lose energy quickly) and the temperature for a man portable unit would be way below what I suspect Zager is thinking of, the temperatures required for Fusion. now, for how the bolt would look, we have a few options, based on how fast the accelerator fires it. if it's faster than the threshold for persistence of vision, all you'd see is a glowing 'beam' link the gun and target for a fraction of a second when fired, then probably get horrible afterimages on your eyes of it afterwards. (in other words, horizontal synthetic lightning. try and imagine a lighting strike as a weapon effect.) if the bolts are slower than persistence of vision threshold, then the effect would probably appear as a fast moving glowing coloured fireball. colour of the bolts is dependant on the elements invoved, so we get to pick one part, cause nobody knows the spectra for Elerium 115. if it uses atmospheric gases for plasma, then the bolts would be mostly green (ionised Nitrogen, the most prevalent gas in the atmosphere at 70%) with possibly some pink striations (ionised oxygen, next most prevalent at 20%).

Thats a fair point, but this makes sense because Terror missions do tend to come in clumps, particularly if you aren't shooting down the scouts. since we've been down on shootdowns... but now we have another pilot on base, and possibly a repaired and upgraded or replaced aircracft, we may be able to get more shootdowns. the trouble with Ufo ground missions is that we need reasons for them landing, and we aren't ready for them to be building bases yet. so more shootdowns is a good idea, but maybe after this Terror raid. Maybe if X-com does well, it'll drive the aliens back a bit, and we'll get into a lull, and we'll get less aggression and more small ship activity.

If this were real life, terror sites would be Tac-Nuked at the least, and might even justify strategic Nuclear weapons, civilians or not. Becuase it's the only guaranteed way of maintaining containment and making sure no nasty Alien gribblies, diseases, chemical weapons or other nasties got out of the site. if it came down to it, the button would be pushed, because it would be the only guaranteed safe option. now, reality aside, it'd make the fic boring if all the sites were getting nuked before X-com got there. (and as for not using nuclear weapons in X-Com, the Avalanche missile has a tactical Nuclear warhead acccording to its deleted ufopedia entry text, so Nukes have already been used.) that being said, A flamethrower is orders of magnitude less controversial than an outright Nuking (which may have happened anyway; we never did find out how the Chinese Government made their terror site 'safe'; by now it may glow in the dark...) and no, the troopers won't be torching civilians. yet. That comes after they've seen Chrysalids in action (or some of the X-Inv vets like Pickering tell them about them.) As for Flamethrowers versus Plasma weapons: it's a calculated risk. For burning out buildings A flamethrower is the thing to have. Will it blow up if hit with a plasma bolt? yes. The point is anything and everything blows up when hit with a plasma bolt, so it isn't really that much more dangerous than grenades or explosives, or even a rifle. The last terror mission showed them that an alien holed up out of sight in a building is dangerous. if you can burn them out... it's also an extension of the ingame incendiary ammo for rockets, autocannon and heavy cannon. Fire works, and is also a powerful psychological weapon as well (and even more so after Alien origins is researched. Fire is the proof that humans aren't just slaves to the alien overmind, and can make their own decisions and advancements) and as veteran said, its a great way for some rookies to go out. imagine a rookie with a flamethrower getting chowed down on by a reaper, until his fuel tank ignites? talk about the biter bit!

Point taken, though I confess, I thought it was only 'Active' Psionics that required an Amp. I thought that 'Passive' psionics like defensive abilities were always on and couldn't even be affected by Amps. you either had defence, or not. in any case, I'm not going to argue over it, since it was perhaps the wrong time to raise it anyway. Post removed.

another post up, and the reason for David's inability to use the mind probe is revealed... or not. If this is too whacked out tell me and I'll remove the post, but it seemed a fairly logical step. Without knowing it, David has some of the same abilities as an Ethereal; the same ability to enhance physical strength and fortitude, and the same Psionic defence aura that makes them so tough. the only differences are that he hasn't known about it till now, and that it consumes all the Psionic energy he comes in contact with, both his own and outside sources. Unlike an Eethereal, it's the only power he manifests, and he has no telepathy or mind control ability. This is why he's so strong yet lightly built, and why he cannot use the mind probe: it's psionic interface's Psionic energy field is leeched away and converted into enhanced physical ability and toughness. (what a Psi-Amp would do I don't know.) And yes, I know that X-com hasn't encountered Ethereals yet (except Howitz...) and that in game humans can't have that kind of psychic boosting power, but I thought that out of game it might be an interesting thing to play with. it might even be a way for us to hold back the psionic research while all the efforts concentrate on the 'wrong' type of Psionic powers, rather than on enhancing Telepathy and mind control. anyhow, let me know what you think of this post. Rick has been recognised as a kind of de facto Psychic, and Now we have a second, different type.

David Brown had just doled out the last of the meagre ration of Plasma Clips to the Buenos Aires squads two Plasma Gunners. The two Laser gunners had retrieved their fully charged Rifles and Pistols and were ready to board the 'Ranger. Rockets for the 84mm Anti-tank launcher were already on board, and a trooper dashed past with a trolley loaded with orange labeled incendiary ammo for Autocannon and 40mm heavy launcher. There was an acrid smell in the Hangar as the requested Flamethrower was adjusted for pressure. it was hardly a subtle weapon, but for clearing buildings, it would do the trick just fine. Rifles were slung, sidearms holstered. This Time, X-com wasn't going in blind. They knew what to expect, and it wasn't going to be pretty. For the Aliens, that is. Rick stepped out into the hangar, feeling somewhat self concious in his new suit of Personal armour. He hadn't wanted to take it, but he'd been bullied into it. He'd rather have given the armour to one of the squaddies, but command were adamant that as squad sergeant, he got the first-and so far only, barring the badly scarred prototype- suit. He felt a little ridiculous in the bright blue plates. " OK. listen up. Unlike the last mission, this time we have clearly hostile targets. There's some confusion about exactly what these critters are, but make no mistake, they are definately not of this Earth. But they definately are not welcome here, be they Aliens or Devils, they're going to regret getting X-com mad at them, Am I right?" Rick asked of the bolstered 'brick' of troopers. " Damn right" Warlord Growled. " Now mount up, and lets go show these 'devils' that Hell is a picnic compared to our kind of playtime" Rick ordered. he felt unusally amped. At the moment everything seemed to be going right. They had new weapons, they had new armour, and they knew, now, what they were getting into. They were prepared so much better than last time.

Instructing the troopers in using the new toys was a damn site easier than David had expected. Of course, it helped that they wanted to learn. Competition for the new gear had been fierce, and eventually, the officers had had to take charge. Rank had it's priveleges, of course, and the Squad leaders had call on what gear they took - within reason. Squad one was being rushed through the basics, and had taken it up pretty fast, since they'd already used the weapons or at least seen them used- Rick had doubled up as instructor for the stun launchers and Lasers. The speed was important since Buenos Aires was crying panic, and Genega wanted the team ready to go as soon as possible - but not without maximum firepower, given the last disastrous terror raid intervention. " Right, Plasma weapon safety tips. Don't load it until you're ready to engage, and unload the moment it isn't needed. With the grip safety fudged to get these things to work, they'll go off at the slightest provocation, so don't clip 'em up till you're under fire or out of the 'Ranger" David instructed of the Plasma weapon handlers. There were two types so far, one a fairly conventionally shaped pistol, the other a more esoterically shaped rifle. The pistol was easy enough, but the rifle was somewhat awkward for the human hand to grip, particularly when doing it wrong would put flesh up against the heat sink radiators. As a precaustion, all plasma weapon gunners had been issued with the same asbestos glove that old M60 machine gunners used to use to prevent burns when changing overheating barrels. " Ok. Clip. slot. This way round, orange crystals at the top, Slam it home. Aim. Fire." David loaded, aimed, and fired a single shot from the plasma pistol he held, before slipping the clip out with his other hand. Unlike on a human pistol, the magazine catch was at the front of the grip. Which wasn't a problem for sectoids with their gangly fingers, but awkward for a human trooper. " Now, when the crystals at the top of the clip are glowing, the clip still has charge. Once the glow goes out, the charge is out. A pistol clip seems to hold anything up to 15 shots. So far A rifle clip will hold up to 20 shots. Unfortunately, some of these clips are part used, and we haven't been able to open them up yet, so the only guide is whether the crystals are glowing. Just watch out for dry firing." David slotted a clearly discharged clip, the crystals gloomy and dull. he pulled the trigger, and the pistol wheezed feebly. Warlord followed suit, drilling a neat bullseye with his pistol, before unloading it, and replacing it and the clip in the belt rig they'd run up for them. " Nice to be able to return to sender" Warlord growled. He hefted the plasma Rifle. To get enough troops trained on the new weapons, the weapons were in matched sets- Plasma Gunners got a plasma rifle and plasma pistol, Laser troops took a Laser rifle and Laser pistol. Since the weapons needed drastically different skills to operate, it had been decided that it was best to limit their use this way till all the troops had a better grasp of their use. Unfortunately, while the laser troops could blast away at the range for practise, the plasma gunners could only squeeze off a couple of shot's because of the limited ammo situation, and thus plasma clips had been added to the shopping list of retrievable items. David glanced over to where the stun grunts were practicing with sponge balls. The launchers used a gravitic charge to launch their stun bombs- or anything else vaguely spherical dropped in the feed hopper, he'd discovered, and also incorporated the detonation mechanism- when the bomb was fired, a self replicating bio-organic acid was released onto the casing, the concentration determined by some kind of onboard computer to allow the stun bomb to be weakened just enough to crack open at the desired point of impact. It explained why David had found no sign of a fuse or detonater on the stun bombs- the launcher handled it. All the Stun grunts also carried one of the unpopular but necessary shock batons as well- so that anything that went down stayed down, as well as a sidearm. For Buenos Aires, these new weapons were going into action alongside all manner of conventional- and not-so-conventional- human weapons that the squad had requested. Following the last terror missions, someone had asked for- and got- both an anti tank missile launcher for dealing with discs, and a flamethrower and incendiary Autocannon and 40mm grenade ammo for close quarter building clearance. grenades and demolition packs were also on the list, and someone had made the case for claymore mines, only for it to be refused because of the civilians that could be present. After last time, no one was looking forward to another intervention. They were all aiming to carry as much as they could in terms of weapons and armour.

Don't worry about the character jack: if it gets the mind probe loose on base, it can only lead to fun later, always a good thing. as for the chopper., while it may not get away, Terrick still might. in fact, it may be interesting for him to get back to the corporate bosses with his laser pistol, only to have the city they are in fall victim to a terror attack, and suddenly, the tables are turned, Terricks calling the shots because of his experience, and as things go from bad to worse, they finally beg him to expose them by calling in X-Com to bail their asses out... just an idea.

oops. I suppose I thought I caught them in between sweeps. I was figuring that since the land rover got found, the ranger got sent back till they got the chopper pinned down. basically, that they were on standby till they got another call out. if you want, I can edit it out though. although, since Jasper and Fitz are up there now, I figure that changeover seems just about right: Warlords team are back for some sack time. I guess I'm just a little confused over the whole Terrick search ( which I suppose is how I'm supposed to be, since the whole base is supposed to be in a tizzy at the moment) And thanks for continuing the itchy thumbs trend with David and the mind probe. as you've probably guessed, I have a few ideas to play with over that.