Passing Muster

The personal log of security officer Kesia Yeboah, Delta Section

[kesiayeboahsec]

Silent Star

Quiet in Delta, for once.

Rachid and Yousef have been transferred. Up to Alpha Sector, I think. It’s okay. Really. Those two, they’ve made their bones. I’m proud of them. Heh. Who knows? Maybe one day... maybe one day, they’ll be the ones going out on missions.

So it’s Garibaldi, Dubois, Cox, and me. It’s the usual schedule: patrol, patrol, patrol. Not like we’re expecting trouble here, but the routine is a comfortable thing. Gives a little bit of normalcy to this entire situation.

Sometimes I wonder what could have been, though.

[kesiayeboahsec]

Frozen Pyre

So! ...At least nobody in Delta Section died.

Final count stands at... uh, five personnel dead prior to our arrival. Three more lost prior to subduing the chryssalids. Garibaldi's in sick bay with massive internal bleeding and poisoning, but the medics said he'll pull through. Rachid's got some third-hand plasma burns and Yousef's... kind of a wreck emotionally. But we survived. And so did almost everyone in the containment ward.

Guess the field test of the plasma rifle is a success. The way it tore through those things... the feeling of carrying a gun capable of that much damage... it really makes you stop in amazement at the whole big picture. I mean, we were using conventional weaponry how long ago? And now we have this. Amazing. Just... amazing.

[dr-vahlen]

WARNING CHRSSYLIDS HAVE ESCAPED CONTAINMENT.

THIS IS A LEVEL THREE GENERAL ALERT. THE CHRYSSALID SPECIMENS HAVE ESCAPED CONTAINMENT.

All security personnel and off duty combat troops are to collect their equipment and report to the containment ward to eliminate the threat. Bring laser weapons, as ballistic weapons have proven to be ineffective against the creatures unless completely saturated with gunfire. Arc throwers would also be appreciated, but not necessary given the nature of the threat

The section has been quarantined for now, but base personnel are still trapped in the section with those monstrosities, so this will be a rescue mission as well as an extermination.

In addition, the research department has something which might help with this. I will be taking it to the rendezvous point personally to give it to anyone willing to field test it.

[kesiayeboahsec]

FUCK!

On our way, ma’am, at triple speed! Me, Garibaldi, Rachid and Yousef! Shit, I knew those practice drills would come in handy at a time like this! If you’ve got a rabbit to pull out of your R&D hat, now’s the time.

Shit, I hate Chryssalids. Why do we even keep those things around?!

[dr-vahlen]

As dangerous as they are, the chitin plating they produce has proven to be life saving. If we wish to use this material in the lab without having to fight a chrysalid to obtain it, we either have to learn how to reproduce it artificially, or start farming the monsters like cattle.

… The live specimens are for the former, just to clarify.

And as for the “rabbit in the hat,” while it’s far too bulky to pull out of a hat (we are still having trouble reducing the mass to reasonable levels) I believe our prototype plasma rifle may help deal with these pests.

Just try not to drop it. It is deceptively heavy, and we only have one.

[kesiayeboahsec]

Still, just... yuck. They give me the willies. If they eat anybody down there, I don't think Bradford's going to be happy about it.

Yeah, I promise not to drop it. Don't let the arm fool you, Doctor; I got through basic training just like the front-line troops. Except it didn't cover spider monsters from space, but that's... not the point.

Just watch. Delta Section's got this in the bag.

[dr-vahlen]

WARNING CHRSSYLIDS HAVE ESCAPED CONTAINMENT.

THIS IS A LEVEL THREE GENERAL ALERT. THE CHRYSSALID SPECIMENS HAVE ESCAPED CONTAINMENT.

All security personnel and off duty combat troops are to collect their equipment and report to the containment ward to eliminate the threat. Bring laser weapons, as ballistic weapons have proven to be ineffective against the creatures unless completely saturated with gunfire. Arc throwers would also be appreciated, but not necessary given the nature of the threat

The section has been quarantined for now, but base personnel are still trapped in the section with those monstrosities, so this will be a rescue mission as well as an extermination.

In addition, the research department has something which might help with this. I will be taking it to the rendezvous point personally to give it to anyone willing to field test it.

[kesiayeboahsec]

FUCK!

On our way, ma'am, at triple speed! Me, Garibaldi, Rachid and Yousef! Shit, I knew those practice drills would come in handy at a time like this! If you've got a rabbit to pull out of your R&D hat, now's the time.

Shit, I hate Chryssalids. Why do we even keep those things around?!

[kesiayeboahsec]

Out of curiosity, what is the strangest occurrence you've seen while working for XCOM?

You mean other than one of my guys trying to frag me? I'd have to say... in all honesty? Chryssalids. Spider and bugs are things I can handle. But the way those things move... it just creeps me right out.

I don't know. At this point, "normal" just seems like a- a dream, y'know? Shit, if you'd told me I'd be part of a military structure dedicated to fighting aliens before the invasion, I would have laughed.

Halcyon days.

[seeker-of-the-xcom-project]

Entry 3

Small update. Made contact with a lawyer named Rueben (like the sandwich) who said he knew about XCOM. He mentioned being part of another secret organization though… X something (what’s with the “X” names? Is this Marvel?)

Going to keep tabs on him. Something doesn’t feel right. Says he wants me to meet a man named Remington (like the gun) tomorrow. Said to bring a bandanna too. Weird. Will post as I can as long as I got a signal out here.

Tim out

[kesiayeboahsec]

...Hoo boy.

[dr-vahlen]

It appears that our little “Conspiracy theorist” has set up a public journal. We should probably keep an eye on him and make sure he doesn’t get himself killed.

[kesiayeboahsec]

Provided he doesn’t wind up attracting attention from the aliens or those EXALT creeps (wherever it is they’ve scurried off to, anyway). This is dangerous enough stuff to deal with as it!

[dr-vahlen]

Oh how terrible it would be if he ended up stumbling onto EXALT, a covert paramilitary operation with ACTUAL ill intent. Oh, it would be even worse if he ended up exposing them to the public light, removing one of our biggest enemies and throwing him off the trail of OUR covert paramilitary operation.

[kesiayeboahsec]

Wha-

Oh. Yeah, that'd be terrible. How awful it'd be if he crippled the guys who want to conquer humanity and who regularly try to kill our coworkers. How deadful!

[dr-vahlen]

It appears that our little “Conspiracy theorist” has set up a public journal. We should probably keep an eye on him and make sure he doesn’t get himself killed.

[kesiayeboahsec]

Provided he doesn't wind up attracting attention from the aliens or those EXALT creeps (wherever it is they've scurried off to, anyway). This is dangerous enough stuff to deal with as it!

[kesiayeboahsec]

So. Back from med-bay, back on active duty. Funny story, really: turns out, Sato didn’t much appreciate being sent to the Ethridge Reserve. We had the whole section up at the firing ranges for target practice when Sato “accidentally” pulled the pin on one of his frag grenades…

[kesiayeboahsec]

Agreed, sir. Whatever you and Dr. Vahlen think is best. Hell, for all I know, the kid was an EXALT plant or something. Never hurts to be paranoid in times like these.

And Bradford… this changes nothing. I’ll do my utmost to help XCOM succeed. Even if it means I have to get some cool scars in the process.

[xcom-central]

Given our current intelligence on EXALT, that seems unlikely - they’ve limited their activities mainly to sabotage and propaganda; I doubt they would attempt to assassinate XCOM staff.

This does not, of course, rule out the possibility.

By the way, Sergeant…? I have a new recruit for Delta Team. Name’s Garibaldi. From his background, he looks like he’d be a good fit.

[kesiayeboahsec]

Or maybe he was just some kid with delusions of grandeur and a really fucked-up brain. Guess we'll never know.

Garibaldi, Garibaldi... yeah, I saw his scores on the range. Not bad. A decent shot, doesn't seem like he'll be an issue. Probably won't go on a homicidal rampage and kill us all in our sleep. I think he'll fit in just fine.

Anybody who can get that kind of praise out of you is a keeper, Bradford, sir.

[kesiayeboahsec]

So. Back from med-bay, back on active duty. Funny story, really: turns out, Sato didn’t much appreciate being sent to the Ethridge Reserve. We had the whole section up at the firing ranges for target practice when Sato “accidentally” pulled the pin on one of his frag grenades...

[kesiayeboahsec]

Agreed, sir. Whatever you and Dr. Vahlen think is best. Hell, for all I know, the kid was an EXALT plant or something. Never hurts to be paranoid in times like these.

And Bradford... this changes nothing. I'll do my utmost to help XCOM succeed. Even if it means I have to get some cool scars in the process.

[kesiayeboahsec]

Bleeding Crone

So. Back from med-bay, back on active duty. Funny story, really: turns out, Sato didn't much appreciate being sent to the Ethridge Reserve. We had the whole section up at the firing ranges for target practice when Sato "accidentally" pulled the pin on one of his frag grenades and it "slipped" out of his hand and landed in front of me.

Good news: I'm fine, and so is Delta Section. Unrelated news: we now have an opening in Delta Section for security personnel.

[kesiayeboahsec]

Rachid is back from the infirmary. Delta Section staff’s at full capacity down here, and I’m doing my best to whip these guys into fighting shape. What we might lack in skill, we make up for in spirit. Let the worst come to pass; we’ll meet it head-on.

Currently patrol down…

[kesiayeboahsec]

Sir, yes, sir.

Sir, if it’s not too much to ask… Sato’s a decent kid. Please make sure he comes back in the same condition he left in.

[xcom-central]

If you’re worried about me handing him over to Dr. Vahlen for his little prank… that isn’t what I had in mind.

Just a few days doing inventory control on the Ethridge Reserve - something with which I believe your people are familiar with, yes?

[kesiayeboahsec]

Quite familiar, yeah. Delta Section's no stranger on that account. (Hell, I did a day or two up there voluntarily once.) I'll sign off on Sato's punishment and we'll make sure he gets out to the Ethridge Reserve nice and promptly.

And sir? Thanks.

[kesiayeboahsec]

Rachid is back from the infirmary. Delta Section staff’s at full capacity down here, and I’m doing my best to whip these guys into fighting shape. What we might lack in skill, we make up for in spirit. Let the worst come to pass; we’ll meet it head-on.

Currently patrol down...

[kesiayeboahsec]

Sir, yes, sir.

Sir, if it's not too much to ask... Sato's a decent kid. Please make sure he comes back in the same condition he left in.

[kesiayeboahsec]

Enduring Vanguard

Rachid is back from the infirmary. Delta Section staff's at full capacity down here, and I'm doing my best to whip these guys into fighting shape. What we might lack in skill, we make up for in spirit. Let the worst come to pass; we'll meet it head-on.

Currently patrol down here is Faraji, Yousef, and myself. Rachid, the new guy from France (Dubois) and the recruit from the UK (Cox) are the security detail for the higher levels.

(As a side note: the person you're looking for in re: the incident with the Imperial March, Bradford? That'd be Sato down here in Delta Section. Sorry about that.)

- Kesia

[kirovskaja]

"I had to sorry"

-serana-dragontongue, 2014.

[dr-vahlen]

Do not make me release the Chryssalids.

[kesiayeboahsec]

You mind not doing that, ma'am? We don't really have the manpower to wrangle 'em back into containment if you let them loose. Rachid's still in sick bay after that incident with the Reaper rounds and the bottle of brandy.

[dr-vahlen]

Most items on this list should not need to be said, and you should all be ashamed that they do.

[kesiayeboahsec]

In total agreement on that one. The next person who calls my guys "D-class" or "cannon fodder" is going to be on KP duty for the next week.

...It was a little funny to see Bradford's face when they blared the Imperial March, though.

[exaltcommsdatabase]

You won't win, you know. What could possibly justify you turning on humanity?!

We are not against the human race, we merely wish to control it. The prophecy was foretold many centuries ago and we aim to fulfill our destiny as the sole governing body.The alien technology will be the tip of our paramilitary spear and nothing will impede inevitability.

[kesiayeboahsec]

You just keep telling yourselves that. We're not pushovers over here, and if you think we're gonna let you or the aliens stake a claim on humanity, you're dead wrong.