The Pit remained busy but Mother was quiet. A single false alarm had a half-strength strike team rushing for the hangar, but the red voxel vanished after four seconds. System technicians were sure that it was just an artefact. A signal processing error to do with non-standard formats in the incoming aerial intelligence.
Isn't anybody else worried about this? Seems to me that a ship stealthed soon after our radar detected it. There may be as many as 4 ships out and about right now. We need to get this armor completed in case this stealth ship tries to attack our boys at the base while our interceptor is out so that we can begin research on detection tech.
I suggest keeping the soldiers at the base while having the assault craft hovering near the base so that it can make a swift return if something pops up. If the (potentially) stealthed craft tries to raid our base while they think it's unmanned, we can have our guys pop out with rocket launchers and take it down.
*snipped vote so as not to confuse Mojo*
We need money for a better base. After we help out Asia, we should petition them.
e: Are we allowed to write in ideas for what we want?
-their propulsion signatures (aside from visual descriptions from our interceptor pilots in the middle of fights), or
-how they communicate between ships.
until we research the fragments we collected and manage to capture a (mostly) intact craft and understand its components, (or interrogate a pilot/navigator/HVT) we are better off getting our troopers equipped to take on such tasks.
It seems like we can auto detect anything that isn't a human craft so propulsion signatures don't really seem all that important. And yes, I did think of a plan that would only work under very limited circumstances. Just kind of ran with a hunch (I know it's overly paranoid and probably pointless).
I wonder how we're going to get an intact craft. Maybe there's some signal that's automatically sent to the ship after all nearby aliens or the main operator dies? Maybe if we manage to capture the last alien or somehow jam the signal that's sent, we can research a less shrapnely ship. Damn speculation. I'm glad you guys started off with the research bonus.
Kaplar on
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Mojo_JojoWe are only now beginning to understand the full power and ramifications of sexual intercourseRegistered Userregular
edited October 2012
Just realised that I shouldn't had you vote on one of the non-combat options as it would happen after this combat. So I'll ignore the victory of A for the moment, as you may want to change that. Entirely my fault there.
Turn 3: AIR BATTLE Decision: 2 £(1): From Kazakhstan with explosions
Numbers:
Overview
Funds: €55 [+€40/turn]
Research Progress: Personal Armour 23/50 [+2d12/turn]
Engineering Progress: No project 0/0 [+1d10/turn]
Agency HQ, Madrid
Research labs [+1d12 RP/turn]
Distributed Research [+1d12 RP/turn]
Engineering bay [+1d10 EP/turn]
Radar Antenna Array [Allows detection of enemy vessels]
Hanger [Can maintain/hold 2 aircraft. Restores 1 aircraft wound / turn]
Sickbay [Treats 1 wound or psyche damage / turn]
Specials
[Gunslinger] - On a natural 20 gains an extra attack
[Tough] - +1 Wounds
[Revenge] - +2 on combat rolls if a squadmate is killed in action
[Slow] - Fires every other turn
Europe +€20 [Level 1] [Morale 0] [Difficulty 14]
Middle East +0 [Level 0] [Morale 0] [Difficulty 13]
Asia +0 [Level 0] [Morale 0] [Difficulty 13, +2 bonus]
Africa +0 [Level 0] [Morale 0] [Difficulty 13, -2 penalty]
Oceania +0 [Level 0] [Morale 0] [Difficulty 13, -2 penalty]
North America [Level 0] [Morale 0] [Difficulty 13, -2 penalty]
Central America [Level 0] [Morale 0] [Difficulty 13]
South America [Level 0] [Morale 0] [Difficulty 13]
Internal: +€20
Research
None
Narrative
With only one interceptor and three targets it was up to the men in The Pit to play favourites. The mirror-visored pilot charged towards his craft, even before the call had been made on where exactly he'd be heading.
Statistics filled the great screens flanking The Pit as they scrambled to make some kind of informed decision. Oceania was ruled out on distance, the target could have done anything by the time it arrived. It was a momentary decision that they could rationalise later,
"Second target - Central Asia"
The order came in just as the interceptor took to the air.
But there was some time before the pilot would set eyes on the target. Tense minutes ticked by, the three red voxels all roughly followed the projected paths but with slightly deviations from the perfect geometry of the three-armed spiral. With the alarm silenced The Pit was mostly quiet. Hushed voices discussed technical minutia as the tiny blue cube that represented the interceptor tore across the globe.
"Target sighted"
It was a tiny brown shape on one of the screens but it rapidly swelled in size. There was no doubt, it was another of the strange rock-craft. Another rough sphere that could have been found in any quarry but studded with strange metalwork: Sensor equipment? Weaponry? Communications? It was travelled more slowly than the first one had been, rotating slightly on its axis as it did.
The interceptor didn't wait, it launched a missile and pulled sideways. The weapon didn't strike the body of the craft squarely, instead getting tangled up in the forest of metalwork. Fragments of smouldering stone whistled through the air and immediately it altered course. The stubby engine that spat out rings of water vapour was quickly facing away from the interceptor. It was a direct collision course. A sudden pull up saved a fiery death, but the undercarriage of the sleek jet was gouged as the flying hunk of debris made its attack.
Rolling around, the interceptor ineffectually brought its guns to bare only to be struck again. The speed and maneouverability of the alien craft outmatched the interceptor even with one of the finest pilots in the world. The rock arced upwards, catching the edge of the interceptor wing and then vanishing upwards. Again, the alien chose to flee the dogfight.
[Phase 1: Interceptor: [1, 18] One hit. Enemy: [17] One hit
Phase 2: Interceptor: [5, 9] No hits. Enemy [17] One hit
Unknown craft retreats]
Within The Pit, the atmosphere was muted to say the least. The second attempt at intercepting a UFO had been less effective than the first. The target had been driven off, but the damage to the interceptor was severe. Thankfully, there was a silver lining. The Asian council would be pleased with the efforts made by their European brethren to keep Earth Human.
[+2 on diplomacy checks against Asia for the next turn]
The other two had continued to circumnavigate the globe for a time after the flight of the third craft. And then abruptly, nineteen and twenty-four minutes later respectively, the two had vanished from the Earth's atmosphere. They'd managed to travel around a third of the way around the planet in that time. Opinions were split about whether their flight was a result of the agency attack on the third, or if this was incidental.
[-2 on diplomacy checks against Africa and Oceania]
Next
A - Perform focused research [additional +1d12 RP this turn]
B - Hire new military personnel (specify number) [€20M each, you can afford up to 2]
C - Train existing military personnel (specify soldier) [Difficulty 10+Rank to promote]
D - Hold negotiations to improve funding (specify council) E - Start on a second hangar [€100M, 50EP] INSUFFICIENT FUNDS
Mojo_Jojo on
Homogeneous distribution of your varieties of amuse-gueule
this is bonkers. these aliens shrug off missiles like they are nothing and still fuck up our shit. Im done playing around, get on the phone with some old guard of the Soviets and buy some nuclear material. I want nuclear missiles for our jets. (maverick size, not icbm size :P )
this is bonkers. these aliens shrug off missiles like they are nothing and still fuck up our shit. Im done playing around, get on the phone with some old guard of the Soviets and buy some nuclear material. I want nuclear missiles for our jets. (maverick size, not icbm size :P )
You mean you don't want to just start hurling nukes into space? But that's where the aliens come from. I say we nuke space. All of it.
We don't need money to repair, the hanger repairs them like the med bay.
I am unhappy to have almost half the world upset at us for not saving their asses. Looks like we'll be needing to play favorites and just let the rest burn.
Will the negative effects fade over time like the positive effects do I wonder.
[/quote]
@Mojo_jojo This is a good question. If it doesn't fade, does the penalty at least get lowered permenantly if we get a bonus later? Otherwise the aliens can just focus on a few countires and be guranteed to deny us the ability get get funding from them.
Although, if the successful landings result in alien mind control, I would totally accept this as resonable. Plus, it might be fun to have a later mission to expose the POTUS as an evil Jelly in disguise.
zekebeau on
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Mojo_JojoWe are only now beginning to understand the full power and ramifications of sexual intercourseRegistered Userregular
Hurt feelings tend to linger longer than positives. If you really wanted to offset such things you'll need to make it up to them
Homogeneous distribution of your varieties of amuse-gueule
Hurt feelings tend to linger longer than positives. If you really wanted to offset such things you'll need to make it up to them
So you're saying we should send them some flowers? Actually, the North American leaders probably will prefer a box of chocolates. Oh, I know, we can take them out to a nice dinner to apologize for the alien landings. I'm sure the make-up funding afterwards will be fantastic.
[/joke]
i think what he means is when we let someone squirm and they get pissed at us, next time we have a chance, we should help them to make the relationship better
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Mojo_JojoWe are only now beginning to understand the full power and ramifications of sexual intercourseRegistered Userregular
Despite this overwhelming consensus it looks like I won't get to a computer today. So no posting. Feel free to argue about what those rock ships were trying to achieve. Or what colour the Agency jump suits should be.
Homogeneous distribution of your varieties of amuse-gueule
Hogwarts uniforms. Dress them all like wizards. Wizards armed with assault rifles.
0
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SnicketysnickThe Greatest Hype Man inWesterosRegistered Userregular
The jumpsuits should be covered in sponsorship logos. See attached for reference:
Note this would provide an additional revenue stream and not represent the final straw in a desperate rush towards the commercialisation of the defence industry.
I want our 5 guys to be dressed up like power rangers.
This guy, he knows what's up.
However, just as a warning, do not try to put Vasquez in the pink ranger suit. Unless you want that missle launcher stored in a very uncomfortable place.
Specials
[Gunslinger] - On a natural 20 gains an extra attack
[Tough] - +1 Wounds
[Revenge] - +2 on combat rolls if a squadmate is killed in action
[Slow] - Fires every other turn
Europe +€20 [Level 1] [Morale 0] [Difficulty 14]
Middle East +0 [Level 0] [Morale 0] [Difficulty 13]
Asia +€20 [Level 1] [Morale 0] [Difficulty 14]
Africa +0 [Level 0] [Morale 0] [Difficulty 13, -2 penalty]
Oceania +0 [Level 0] [Morale 0] [Difficulty 13, -2 penalty]
North America [Level 0] [Morale 0] [Difficulty 13, -2 penalty]
Central America [Level 0] [Morale 0] [Difficulty 13]
South America [Level 0] [Morale 0] [Difficulty 13]
Internal: +€20
Research
None
Narrative
The halls of the Agency were a buzz with the news that the new field operative uniforms had arrived. There'd been rampant speculation about the European Council contracting various fashion houses and designers for the uniforms and this was the first phase. Up until now they'd just be wearing plain fatigues, a mish-mash of camouflage patterns and militaries. Wolner had even been given a clean bill of health (mental and physical) and was joining his colleagues around the huge pile of suit carriers (that to his eyes looked like body bags).
"Wait what?"
It was Hicks who spoke, even regulated to standby status as he was he'd been issued one of the new uniforms. It was green. Not the drab olive of traditional militarywear but a brighter, almost metallic colour. The others opened theirs. Red. Yellow. Blue. Pink. And Black. All eyes turned on Vasquez. Envious eyes. She alone would be dressed in a sensible colour. The rest would look like a troop of dancers or acrobats. Something much less than the best of the best that they were. Worse was that there was nobody to ask whether this deliberate. Mr Fish and Ms. Chia were both in Shanghai, conducting funding negotiations. And there were so many sets of the uniforms. So very many. To the faces of the strike team nobody laughed, but safely behind closed doors, it took on a much more amusing air.
Numerous reports were coming in from across the distributed network that the Agency directed. It seemed like some real progress was being made on putting together a suit of armour for the modern age. Soon was the watchword.
The flight in Shanghai seemed laughable when it became clear that both Agency representatives would be contained with a video suite for the meeting. A small multi-faceted room covered in seamless video screens of upsettingly high resolution. The engineering that had gone into the suite was also wasted given how the participants were represented. Each nation of the Asian League was a black monolith bearing a red number. The scene was fixed in an endless void with Mr Chips and Ms Chia standing in the middle. The voices of the black slabs were digitised and blank, a robotic interpretation of a human voice. Even to the two professionals it was slightly intimidating to be interrogated by the monotone monoliths.
In total the negotiations took two days. And at the end of that the Asian League had agreed to a regular set of payments. It was a victory. And all they'd had to promise was total and utter protection for every citizen within the league.
[Diplomacy check for Asian funding: [14]. Success. Level 1 funding from a second council has been obtained. They'll start paying next turn]
Before the two returned with the good news there was another red alert. Once again Mother spoke those terrible words. And once again it was not a single craft but three. An identical emergence. Three craft from a single point and spiralling outwards from that point. This time they'd arrived in the Atlantic. And this time the interceptor was not at 100%.
Next
1 - Interceptor away to UFO #1 (projected engagement in Panama, Central America)
2 - Interceptor away to UFO #2 (projected engagement in Guinea, Africa)
3 - Interceptor away to UFO #3 (projected engagement in Antarctica)
4 - Pursue (1,2 or 3) in the assault lander and engage on the ground when/if they land rather than risking the interceptor
5 - DO NOT ENGAGE
Mojo_Jojo on
Homogeneous distribution of your varieties of amuse-gueule
2
Head to Africa, if they hate us too much they may ally with the invaders, and they're rather too close to us for that to be a comforting thought.
Other then that, Panama is kind of on the other side of the planet so getting there is very time consuming, and Antarctica is a barren wasteland of ice and snow. Penguins aren't likely to chip in much for funding.
A not 100% Interceptor is just asking to be shot down. We should probably take a roll and seeing if we can't catch the alien landing and take 'em while they're off-guard.
Also, to maintain a proper sense of decorum, I propose any armor or equipment load-outs should be color-coordinated with the designated jumpsuit color of the operative. Yes, even if that means pink rocket launchers. :P
A not 100% Interceptor is just asking to be shot down. We should probably take a roll and seeing if we can't catch the alien landing and take 'em while they're off-guard.
Also, to maintain a proper sense of decorum, I propose any armor or equipment load-outs should be color-coordinated with the designated jumpsuit color of the operative. Yes, even if that means pink rocket launchers. :P
That's a funny way to spell "especially"...
see317 on
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jakobaggerLO THY DREAD EMPIRE CHAOS IS RESTOREDRegistered Userregular
4(2) we can use this to find out how quickly we can get back on a nation's good side. we do not have the resources available (and i expect we never will) to deal with every threat, so we need to do risk management and damage control. our highest paying allies should always be a first priority defense target, but we need to see if its worth it to try and win back favor with countries we've abandoned before.
I am very afraid of our transporter getting hit before the alien lands. It would be the death of 5 crew. But I'm pretty sure these flying rocks don't have the defensive hardware to knock em down when they are being tailed.
I don't think it will be popular, but the interceptor only has minor (1) damage and that is the worst it has sustained. It will win the next dogfight. Now you may ask why Antarctica and not Africa, we can repair burnt bridges. Well, call me paranoid, but a group of aliens huddled in the Antarctic scares the shit out of me. They have nothing to slow them and god knows what ancient ruins/tech is below the ice they will dig up.
Oh, and why aren't the tech people wearing their new gear? We got them all red, sequined vests with lightning bolts.
If we are going to have the transport snag them in, it should be in africa. the response time will be quicker and the UFOs will not see a solitary transport vtol fly over the atlantic or open water. there is enough air traffice over europe and north africa to hopefully mask the vtol's presence until the bastards land.
Ideally, I'd like to use the busted interceptor to fly escort in case the UFO turns to attack, but I doubt we'd be able to repair the interceptor same turn (we'd be gaming the system at that point like we were with rockets on everybody)
we may have to just bite the bullet and pray on this one. This is a pivotal moment for the XCOM initiative. Success and carry on, or the loss of the bulk of our operatives and too much costs as to lead to the cancellation. (new transport and 4 operatives is probably easily $120+. at least 2 turns of unabated alien attacks)
Posts
It seems like we can auto detect anything that isn't a human craft so propulsion signatures don't really seem all that important. And yes, I did think of a plan that would only work under very limited circumstances. Just kind of ran with a hunch (I know it's overly paranoid and probably pointless).
I wonder how we're going to get an intact craft. Maybe there's some signal that's automatically sent to the ship after all nearby aliens or the main operator dies? Maybe if we manage to capture the last alien or somehow jam the signal that's sent, we can research a less shrapnely ship. Damn speculation. I'm glad you guys started off with the research bonus.
Turn 3: AIR BATTLE
Decision: 2 £(1): From Kazakhstan with explosions
Numbers:
Funds: €55 [+€40/turn]
Research Progress: Personal Armour 23/50 [+2d12/turn]
Engineering Progress: No project 0/0 [+1d10/turn]
Agency HQ, Madrid
Distributed Research [+1d12 RP/turn]
Engineering bay [+1d10 EP/turn]
Radar Antenna Array [Allows detection of enemy vessels]
Hanger [Can maintain/hold 2 aircraft. Restores 1 aircraft wound / turn]
Sickbay [Treats 1 wound or psyche damage / turn]
Personnel
Active
Squaddie Steven Hiller
[10,3,3] [Gunslinger] [combat rifle]
Squaddie Blain Cooper
[16x3,4,3] [Tough] [autocannon]
Rookie Alan "Dutch" Schaefer
[10,3,3] [combat rifle]
Rookie Dwayne Hicks
[10,3,3] [combat rifle]
Rookie Jenette Vasquez
[14(1d4),3,3] [Anti-tank missile launcher] [slow]
Standby
None
Medical Leave
Squaddie Edvard Wolner
[10,2/3,3] [Revenge] [combat rifle]
Morgue
Rookies: 1
Storage Locker
5 x Anti-tank missile launcher (Target 14, [slow] [1d4 damage])
Specials
[Gunslinger] - On a natural 20 gains an extra attack
[Tough] - +1 Wounds
[Revenge] - +2 on combat rolls if a squadmate is killed in action
[Slow] - Fires every other turn
Craft
Interceptor [10x2, 2/4, 3]
Funding
Middle East +0 [Level 0] [Morale 0] [Difficulty 13]
Asia +0 [Level 0] [Morale 0] [Difficulty 13, +2 bonus]
Africa +0 [Level 0] [Morale 0] [Difficulty 13, -2 penalty]
Oceania +0 [Level 0] [Morale 0] [Difficulty 13, -2 penalty]
North America [Level 0] [Morale 0] [Difficulty 13, -2 penalty]
Central America [Level 0] [Morale 0] [Difficulty 13]
South America [Level 0] [Morale 0] [Difficulty 13]
Internal: +€20
Research
Narrative
Next
A - Perform focused research [additional +1d12 RP this turn]
B - Hire new military personnel (specify number) [€20M each, you can afford up to 2]
C - Train existing military personnel (specify soldier) [Difficulty 10+Rank to promote]
D - Hold negotiations to improve funding (specify council)
E - Start on a second hangar [€100M, 50EP] INSUFFICIENT FUNDS
D (Asia)
I concur
D (Asia)
D3 Steam #TeamTangent STO
May as well ask Asia to chip in a bit.
D (Asia)
this is bonkers. these aliens shrug off missiles like they are nothing and still fuck up our shit. Im done playing around, get on the phone with some old guard of the Soviets and buy some nuclear material. I want nuclear missiles for our jets. (maverick size, not icbm size :P )
Steam - NotoriusBEN | Uplay - notoriusben | Xbox,Windows Live - ThatBEN
You mean you don't want to just start hurling nukes into space? But that's where the aliens come from. I say we nuke space. All of it.
Steam - NotoriusBEN | Uplay - notoriusben | Xbox,Windows Live - ThatBEN
We don't need money to repair, the hanger repairs them like the med bay.
I am unhappy to have almost half the world upset at us for not saving their asses. Looks like we'll be needing to play favorites and just let the rest burn.
Will the negative effects fade over time like the positive effects do I wonder.
@Mojo_jojo This is a good question. If it doesn't fade, does the penalty at least get lowered permenantly if we get a bonus later? Otherwise the aliens can just focus on a few countires and be guranteed to deny us the ability get get funding from them.
Although, if the successful landings result in alien mind control, I would totally accept this as resonable. Plus, it might be fun to have a later mission to expose the POTUS as an evil Jelly in disguise.
So you're saying we should send them some flowers? Actually, the North American leaders probably will prefer a box of chocolates. Oh, I know, we can take them out to a nice dinner to apologize for the alien landings. I'm sure the make-up funding afterwards will be fantastic.
[/joke]
Seriously, thank you for the clarification Mojo.
We dazzle the aliens with our bold fashion tastes, then beat'em up while they stare slackjawed.
I quite like the idea we got them cheap and all the military hard-asses having to put up with it :P
Note this would provide an additional revenue stream and not represent the final straw in a desperate rush towards the commercialisation of the defence industry.
D3 Steam #TeamTangent STO
This guy, he knows what's up.
However, just as a warning, do not try to put Vasquez in the pink ranger suit. Unless you want that missle launcher stored in a very uncomfortable place.
Decision: D(Asia): Mo' money mo' explosions
Numbers:
Funds: €95 [+€60/turn]
Research Progress: Personal Armour 46/50 [+2d12/turn]
Engineering Progress: No project 0/0 [+1d10/turn]
Agency HQ, Madrid
Distributed Research [+1d12 RP/turn]
Engineering bay [+1d10 EP/turn]
Radar Antenna Array [Allows detection of enemy vessels]
Hanger [Can maintain/hold 2 aircraft. Restores 1 aircraft wound / turn]
Sickbay [Treats 1 wound or psyche damage / turn]
Personnel
Active
Squaddie Steven Hiller
[10,3,3] [Gunslinger] [combat rifle]
Squaddie Blain Cooper
[16x3,4,3] [Tough] [autocannon]
Squaddie Edvard Wolner
[10,3,3] [Revenge] [combat rifle]
Rookie Alan "Dutch" Schaefer
[10,3,3] [combat rifle]
Rookie Jenette Vasquez
[14(1d4),3,3] [Anti-tank missile launcher] [slow]
Standby
Rookie Dwayne Hicks
[10,3,3] [combat rifle]
Medical Leave
None
Morgue
Rookies: 1
Storage Locker
5 x Anti-tank missile launcher (Target 14, [slow] [1d4 damage])
Specials
[Gunslinger] - On a natural 20 gains an extra attack
[Tough] - +1 Wounds
[Revenge] - +2 on combat rolls if a squadmate is killed in action
[Slow] - Fires every other turn
Craft
Interceptor [10x2, 3/4, 3]
Funding
Middle East +0 [Level 0] [Morale 0] [Difficulty 13]
Asia +€20 [Level 1] [Morale 0] [Difficulty 14]
Africa +0 [Level 0] [Morale 0] [Difficulty 13, -2 penalty]
Oceania +0 [Level 0] [Morale 0] [Difficulty 13, -2 penalty]
North America [Level 0] [Morale 0] [Difficulty 13, -2 penalty]
Central America [Level 0] [Morale 0] [Difficulty 13]
South America [Level 0] [Morale 0] [Difficulty 13]
Internal: +€20
Research
Narrative
Next
1 - Interceptor away to UFO #1 (projected engagement in Panama, Central America)
2 - Interceptor away to UFO #2 (projected engagement in Guinea, Africa)
3 - Interceptor away to UFO #3 (projected engagement in Antarctica)
4 - Pursue (1,2 or 3) in the assault lander and engage on the ground when/if they land rather than risking the interceptor
5 - DO NOT ENGAGE
We don't seem to be having any luck taking them out in the air. Maybe our squad will do a little better.
Edit: In fact, it might be a good idea to research that Alien scrap after the armour is finished, maybe we can toughen our planes up a little.
Head to Africa, if they hate us too much they may ally with the invaders, and they're rather too close to us for that to be a comforting thought.
Other then that, Panama is kind of on the other side of the planet so getting there is very time consuming, and Antarctica is a barren wasteland of ice and snow. Penguins aren't likely to chip in much for funding.
Let's go for Central America. Everyone hates us except for them and we can petition them for money next round.
A not 100% Interceptor is just asking to be shot down. We should probably take a roll and seeing if we can't catch the alien landing and take 'em while they're off-guard.
Also, to maintain a proper sense of decorum, I propose any armor or equipment load-outs should be color-coordinated with the designated jumpsuit color of the operative. Yes, even if that means pink rocket launchers. :P
I am very afraid of our transporter getting hit before the alien lands. It would be the death of 5 crew. But I'm pretty sure these flying rocks don't have the defensive hardware to knock em down when they are being tailed.
I don't think it will be popular, but the interceptor only has minor (1) damage and that is the worst it has sustained. It will win the next dogfight. Now you may ask why Antarctica and not Africa, we can repair burnt bridges. Well, call me paranoid, but a group of aliens huddled in the Antarctic scares the shit out of me. They have nothing to slow them and god knows what ancient ruins/tech is below the ice they will dig up.
Oh, and why aren't the tech people wearing their new gear? We got them all red, sequined vests with lightning bolts.
And for everyone else, little berets and v-necks.
If we are going to have the transport snag them in, it should be in africa. the response time will be quicker and the UFOs will not see a solitary transport vtol fly over the atlantic or open water. there is enough air traffice over europe and north africa to hopefully mask the vtol's presence until the bastards land.
Ideally, I'd like to use the busted interceptor to fly escort in case the UFO turns to attack, but I doubt we'd be able to repair the interceptor same turn (we'd be gaming the system at that point like we were with rockets on everybody)
we may have to just bite the bullet and pray on this one. This is a pivotal moment for the XCOM initiative. Success and carry on, or the loss of the bulk of our operatives and too much costs as to lead to the cancellation. (new transport and 4 operatives is probably easily $120+. at least 2 turns of unabated alien attacks)
Steam - NotoriusBEN | Uplay - notoriusben | Xbox,Windows Live - ThatBEN