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Thought I'd start an AAR for those interested in game. For those interested download went smoothly except when I unthinkingly shut off my network to hook up to printer halfway through. Once I left it connected it went smoothly. Read manual which was surprisingly short but seems to cover everything.

Now the Xenocide takes his seat in CAF Control to save the Planet Esperanza

First thing I did as Commander was read the UFOPaedia then examine my main base. Looks like the CAF forces don't have a much better build-up than the mythical X-Com forces of the ancient past. It'll do though.

Since they will likely be first into action I decide to do a quick review of my Raptor Attack Craft. They're designed with 2 hardpoints and a shield system. It looks like each hardpoint is locked for either cannon or missiles and since there are no Avalanche Launchers this time nothing can be done. I'll just hope the pilots know what they are doing when I send them up.

Next stop is to meet with my head researcher, Dr. Cranium. He assures me that they are plugged into a network with the brightest minds on the planet and he and his 9 colleagues are dedicated to seeing an end to the alien menace. After a brief run through of what facilities he has available he lays out 2 developments he believes are possible. He is convinced they can develop hand-carried laser weapons and a more powerful cannon for our Raptors. I was intrigued but am currently unsure whether we will be more outfought on land or in the air. I instruct the good doctor to split his efforts equally between the two projects and inform me immediately of any results.

Next person I invited into my office was Bob the Builder. This meeting was much shorter. While he insists his 10 Techs are ready and able to begin creating what we need there is currently nothing he can build that it would not be quicker and cheaper to buy from Military Sources. He and his Techs are assigned short shifts and KP duty until things change.

Before Bob left I assigned him control of Inventory Management for the troops. I had read that the weapons we were being equipped with were state of the art and it seems that our suppliers have limited supplies of the equipment. One can hope they will have more available soon or we may have to send in troops with little ammo. I suspect that the nation-states of Esperanza are hard at work arming themselves and leaving us with leftovers. Those Bastards.

Next stop on my tour was the Barracks. We have no rank system yet but we have 9 soldiers who I'm assured are the best of the best that Esperanza has to offer. We will see soon enough. While we have rocket launchers and pistols I've instructed all 8 of my troops to equip themselves with rifles, ammo, grenades, a stimpack, and assigned them all the new Desert Rat Armor they've cooked up for us. While all have been given the official rank of Rookie till further notice (my idea) I've made Alyssa Hill brevet commander until I can judge their performance. Her dossier impressed me. While there were some overheard complaints about all the women being assigned to our airlift I think this is the best initial layout. I also spent some time with Joe going over the specs of our combat vehicle. The eggheads assure me that it is tough and is worth the 4 soldiers it will replace. It has an armor piercing cannon and a 2-shot missile system which they've assured me can't miss the target....I've heard that before.

Realizing how limited our detection coverage is I put in a request to the Government of Pelopenesia to install a fighter/radar base within their nation. It is situated on the opposite side of the planet and seems like an ideal site. Approval is quickly granted and they assure me the base will be operational in a few weeks with a power system and a hanger bay.

Without any money left I am unable to install defense systems or interrogation rooms in either base. Since I expect to use massive overkill in my first encounters with the aliens I do not expect this to be a problem. Dr. Cranium and Bob have also assured me that our bases are all but invisible and defenses would be all but irrelevant. Personally I'd be happier if we could throw a barrage or two of missiles at any UFO that saunters by.

It was on January 19 that the war truly began. It was 8 am base time when the AI told me we had something. The AI computer's analysis led them to believe it was a Scout. I scrambled Raptors 1 & 2 and watched in fear as they closed in. At range they volleyed their missiles and it seemed to do some damage but after 8 missile hits the thing was still in the air. They closed to cannon range and the battle began in earnest. Raptor 1 took a few minor hits but the UFO went down. Now it's time to send in the troops and see what we're up against.

The landing in the desert was uneventful. Joe led the way out in his armored vehicle and immediately spotted some kind of hideous revolting blob floating outside the craft.

Joe, never one for not countering a threat, fired the missile launcher and the floating body is now no longer floating and appears to be a slightly darker color. I order Joe to go easy on the Missiles as he now only has one left. The squad fans our quickly. Time to find out if anyone else survived the crash.

Karina is the first to locate the UFO and quickly reports in that she has spotted some kind of freaky hunchback creature outside the craft. No one is quite sure what it is but violence is always an acceptable course in the face of the unknown.

Malcolm and Joe are the only ones able to provide covering fire for Karina. Joe missed by a mile and Malcolm proceeded to shoot Karina from behind in the left leg. the would seems superficial but will probably slow her down. This war is going fantastic First blood on our side comes from friendly fire.

Damn, two more one of the hunchbacks and another floater come in from the northwest. Malcolm chucks a grenade into their formation and brings down the floater but his shots can't touch the hunchback. These are the best of the best?

I see I was right to put Alyssa in charge. One tough lady. She took down 2 of the bastards to the South. Unfortunately Malcolm took a direct hit and is now on the ground. I order Joe to cover the wounded as Alyssa and Janet come from the South to provide medical aid. I'm a little less impressed by the vehicle now. It took two shots from the things cannon to down an enemy.

Some more exited the UFO (just off screen) and shot multiple times. She now has wounds in both legs and her torso. It's missile time you punks.

Remember that can't miss missile system....it missed and added to Janet's health problems. We're down to one effective soldier and a missile-less vehicle.

Joe proves more handy with the cannon though and brings them both down. It turns out that was the last of them. Time to go home.

Fantastic. The docs tell me that Malcolm will be down for over a month regrowing vital organs. The girls will be back in 10 and 19 days. Alyssa was definitely the hero of the day, still able to function and with 2 kills. While not convinced of the value of the vehicle which Joe has now classed as the Desert Spirit I feel I have little choice but to deploy on the next mission unless some of my troops are able to get out of bed before then.

All in all, not an auspicious first mission. This may be a long war.

(Note, meant to show the Mission Complete Screen but closed it too quickly....ooops)

I called Dr. Cranium in after his preliminary analysis of what we were able to bring back. He tells me they don't even know where to begin with the weapons. Maybe with more research we can crack them. They seem effective enough. He has nicknamed the two aliens we've encountered as Larvae and Chasers based on what he's seen so far. the good doctor seems eager to begin dissections or to tear apart the scout. I've reined him in some and have kept him on what we need more than info right now.....MORE AND BETTER GUNS.