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[mousestalker]

Drat these elusive aliens!

[TheBlackBaron]

Two updates in one day? Why not. Have a small one.

 

CHAPTER FOUR: A DAY AT THE AIR SHOW

 

 

On September 10th, the Xenonauts scientists completed their program to develop a new high-speed long range interceptor, codenamed FIREFOX. Through covert means, they acquired the plans for the USSR's MiG-31 "Foxhound" (as it was known in the NATO world), the successor to the infamous MiG-25 "Foxbat". Both aircraft were originally designed to shoot down high-altitude supersonic bombers like the XB-70 Valkyrie, and tests had shown they were among the fastest fighter aircraft in the world - perfect for modification for the Xenonaut's purposes, in other words. Using the same modifications devised for converting Falcons to the F-17 Condor, the result was the MiG-32, given the reporting name "Foxtrot". 

 

: I have a mighty need, Mouse. I feel the need for spee-

 

: That movie hasn't even come out yet. 

 

: Look, as long as we don't have to think in Russian I'm good. 

 

 

 

A true interceptor design, as opposed to the more lightweight dogfighter that was the Condor, the MiG-32's primary weapon was two Avalanche Torpedoes, the absolute pinnacle of terrestrial aerospace engineering. Essentially a large missile normally intended for anti-shipping duty, it was mated with an upgraded seeker derived from the AIM-54 Phoenix and an enormous rocket booster to propel it to speeds in excess of Mach 6.

 

Spoiler

 

Orders are immediately given for the construction of two MiG-32's at The Lobby.

 

 

Meanwhile, the Xenonauts scientists get to work on their next project, to develop an air-transportable 4x4 wheeled vehicle to provide heavy fire support to the Xenonauts strike teams. 

 

 

 

And the rounds of construction begun at the start of the month are completed. The Lobby is not longer quite as degraded as it once was, as it now possess ample hanger space in addition to a garage and a med bay to support the ground forces. Most importantly, the upgraded radar facilities are now sufficient to cover most of North America, reaching into the Canadian arctic, as well as extending its limits farther south into the Amazon rainforest.

 

 

The day tick by. Nearly a week has passed since the last UFO appeared on The Lobby's radar screens, and the skies have gone eerily quiet. Perhaps the aliens have started to avoid the continent? Even so, aside from a few scattered sightings and abduction reports, the rest of the globe has been free of activity. 

 

Have they given up? Gone home? Or are they planning something big? The silence is almost more terrifying than their actual presence. 

 

Meanwhile, the Xenonauts engineers have completed their first ever job, the construction of the Foxtrots.

 

 

'MOUSESTALKER' and 'FAST JIMMY', as the two most experienced pilots in the organization, are selected to pilot the new interceptors. Replacing them in the Condor cockpits, please welcome pilots 'SEBOIST' and 'KAISER SHEPARD' to The Lobby!

 

Later that day, the Xenonauts scientists complete the development project for the Hunter Armored Car.

 

 

 

Derived from the UK's Daimler Ferret armored car, the Hunter may not be quite the pinnacle of terrestrial technology like the Foxtrot and Avalanche are, but is still a fair engineering feat of its own. Light and compact enough to be carried inside of the CH-48 Charlie, avoiding the drawbacks and vulnerabilities associated with carrying a vehicle in a sling, and armed with Viper rockets, it represents an excellent reconnaissance and fire support option for Xenonauts strike teams, especially in rural areas and night combat scenarios. The order is given to begin building one immediately. 

 

 

With their initial projects completed, the Xenonauts scientists instead turn their minds towards studying the biology of the alien invaders, with an eye towards devising a way to capturing one ... alive. 

 

: Wait a damn minute. Do they -seriously- want us to try and get close enough to these dirty >impliers to take it alive? 

 

: Oh, I don't know Recon, having one of them at our mercy sounds like it could be fun ...

 

: May Luna's plot protect me from these sik faks ...

 

 

Finally, almost two weeks after the last, another alien drug runner appears on the radar screens, very close to the last one.

 

 

Armed with their much faster interceptors, however, they won't be getting away this time ...

 

 

 

 

'FAST JIMMY' and 'MOUSESTALKER' tail that craft up and down the west coast of Mexico, hoping to force it to turn landward. Finally, with just 23% fuel remaining, they are forced to attempt a shootdown over open water.

 

 

With no time or fuel to maneuver, they both simply burn as fast as possible towards the scout, targeting computers locked on ...

 

 

 

: WHOAH. Did you see that roll??

 

: We knew they were agile but that was a maneuver way beyond anything we've ever previously encountered!

 

 

 

Forced to return to base, the duty falls to the freshly minted 'SEBOIST' and 'KAISER SHEPARD', piloting the F-17 Condors. Fortunately, the UFO finally turns eastward and flies into Nicaraguan airspace, presenting the perfect opportunity for the two rookie pilots.

 

 

 

 

Using the same tactics that had worked so well before, 'SEBOIST' puts the first notch on his belt!

 

 

For the first time, a UFO has gone down in an urban industrial area, on the outskirts of the Nicaraguan capital of Managua, and 'BIG SKY' takes off to sample the Nicaraguan nightlife ...

 

And probably the drugs. 

 

To be continued ...

[mousestalker]

GJ Seboist!

[A Crusty Knight Of Colour]

The play-by-play combat sequences are pretty intense. Loving it.

[Kaiser Arian XVII]

I can see a bit of a few of the pictures...

What is this game? I thought it's XCom Enemy Unknown.

[A Crusty Knight Of Colour]

I can see a bit of a few of the pictures...
What is this game? I thought it's XCom Enemy Unknown.

The game is Xenonauts, it's not necessarily XCOM but it's very close. It's kind of like a spiritual successor to the original XCOM: Enemy Unknown from the 1990s.

[Lotion Soronarr]

Torpedos are almost useless against fighters.

Anything that can roll will evade them unless you time them just perfectly (staggered launch - if you have 2 foxtrots, fire 1 missile every 2 seconds, over 8 seconds)

Start with all missiles turned off. Reduce speed of foxtrots to minimum (gives them more time to lock). One lock is obtained, enable missile one by one, slowly.

[Kaiser Arian XVII]

Submarine vs Carrier

in a neutral unbiased experiment:

 

 

Submarine wins!

My point about "submarines > carriers" proven!

[Fast Jimmy]

Fast Jimmy: I have a mighty need, Mouse. I feel the need for spee-

Mousestalker: That movie hasn't even come out yet.

Fast Jimmy: Look, as long as we don't have to think in Russian I'm good.

Win! Great Let's Play so far, Baron. Keep up the good work.

[TheBlackBaron]

Thank you, guys. Aside from some abortive AAR's of Paradox games this is the first LP I've done. So hopefully it continues to get better and maybe I approach the hilarity of Crusty and Phoenix's output.

Anyways, next chapter we will have our first casualty.

[LPPrince]

I iz watching

[The Jackal]

This sucks. I'm not in any of them so far. 

[TheBlackBaron]

CHAPTER FIVE: SANDINISTA!

 

OPERATION HIDDEN HYDRA
22 SEPTEMBER 1979, 1003 HOURS GMT
MANAGUA, NICARAGUA

 

When we last left the Xenonauts, Strike-One had just touched down in a small industrial area on the outskirts of the Nicaraguan capital of Managua. Engaging in their first mission are LP Prince, a Grenadier, and CassandraSaturn, a shotgun-wielding Assault.

 

: The both of you are the sikest of >impliers, but with my other guys hurt and you two badly in need of experience, you'll have to do. 
 
: I have more grenades than post count. I think it will be okay. 
 
: Okay, I think we're clear on this si-OH NOT AGAIN.
 

Spoiler

 

 

Once more, a Caesan has set him ... her ... itself just outside of the CH-48, lurking and waiting for its shot.

 

 

 

However, Gravi and Crusty, newly wielding a shotgun, give it a spot of the old ultraviolence. 

 

 

 

: *panting* Man, this shield is heavier than I though-another contact!
 

 

 

 

: We can't get a good shot at him, get behind that shield or it's all Ogre for you!

 

 

 

The Caesan guard takes several shots but is unable to hit anybody, and with the way clear, Cassandra dashes up and earns her first kill!

 

 

 

 

 

: Clear up here, except for a cop. Hey, buddy! Where's the spaceship?
 
: Al noroeste, más allá de los almacenes. Por favor, date prisa!
 
: I'm sorry, I don't speak Applenese. 
 
: Forget him, Gravi. Cassandra, Dominus, get ready to breach that building. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

The operatives breach, but find nothing but another cop. Meanwhile, Recon and Phoenix sweep west around the boxcar, but there is still no sign of the downed alien craft.

 

 

 

: Negative on that, narrator, I've got eyes on the prize. As slow as I'm moving how did I beat all of you guys to it? 
 

 

 

Shut up Prince, it's not my fault your TU's are so low. 

 

 

 

 

 

Prince tosses a smoke grenade to cover Crusty as he moves up, as he spots their third contact.

 

 

 

: I've got this >implier myself, may the Moon Goddess' plot guide my aim ... DAMNIT. 

 

 

 

Recon's shot wounds but fails to kill the Caesan, and as Dominus tosses another smoke grenade Cassandra moves in for her second kill.

 

 

After dispatching of another Caesan redshirt hiding behind the boxcar with minimal fuss, Strike-One sets up their breach of the UFO proper, with another smoke grenade in place ...

 

 

... but before they have an opportunity to do anything, the craft doors open and another redshirt pops out!

 

: 

 

In a panic, he shoots the closest target he can see ...

 

 

... which just happens to be Cassandra. And even a plasma pistol can be deadly at point-blank range, as Cassandra screams and topples to the ground, smoking.

 

: CASSANDRA, NO! WE HAVEN'T EVEN RECRUITED THEBUNZ YET!
 

 

 

 

Reaction fire wounds the slayer of their fallen comrade, but only one shot connect. Meanwhile, another guard appears and hits Crusty, but miraculously he survives ...

 

 

... and exacts revenge for himself and Cassandra!

 

 

 

Johnnie lets it rip with her M60 to suppress the remaining Caesan, and Gravi rushes in to finish him off. 

 

: Son of a ****** ... that should be all of these bastards, right? 
 
: Negative, Strike-One, millimeter-wave radar is still showing one more contact. 

 

 

 

Prince, utterly through with this mission, opts to toss a frag grenade and turn the last Caesan into a fine purpleish mist. 

 

 

And while Crusty earns himself a Crimson Heart for his wounds, it is with a heavy heart that Strike-One returns to base ...

 

 

To be continued ...

 

* * *

 

ON THE NEXT LET'S PLAY XENONAUTS:

 

Recon experiences a moment of regret ...
 
: I knew I could not suffer the furry to live, Cassandra, but not like this ... not like this ...
 
Prince continues his life's work ...
 
: Finally, DARPA has let us access the XENONET forums!
 
And the Xenonauts go on a ranging beyond The Wall ...
 

Spoiler

Two whole kills of experience, wasted. And I can't even blame sim.    

[LPPrince]

I really was utterly through with that mission.

[Dobby]

I just went through all the chapters.

 

I really am enjoying all these LP game things. As I've never played a PC game before, I find them really interesting  

[The Jackal]

I still don't know how this game works. 

[LPPrince]

I still don't know how this game works. 

 

We kill aliens. We also have bonus activities, like my soon to be domination over the XENONET forums.

[The Jackal]

We kill aliens. We also have bonus activities, like my soon to be domination over the XENONET forums.

 

It's like a roleplaying game then. 

[Dio Demon]

It's like a roleplaying game then. 

Nope.

 

Go on Youtube. It'll explain better than I can.

[LPPrince]

Nope.

 

Go on Youtube. It'll explain better than I can.

 

Better yet, go onto the XENONET forums.

[TheBlackBaron]

Essentially, the game is divided into a real time strategy component, where you manage your bases, R&D, soldiers, and aircraft, and dispatch them around the world to combat the aliens, and a turn based tactical component where you direct your soldiers on the battlefield. These are referred to as the Geoscape and the Battlescape, respectively. The chapters thus far are pretty evenly split between the two.

[TheBlackBaron]

Spoiler

Another two-parter incoming - funny how I keep swearing these will become less play-by-play and here I am still doing it.  However, this was a fun, tense mission and I feel it's deserving of the recap. In any event, in the first month I don't feel as bad about it - as time goes on there will be likely be more UFO missions that I simply pass over in recounting or opt for the airstrike (Xenonauts introduces the opportunity to have downed UFO's be bombed by a nearby nation, yielding money in proportion to the size of the UFO struck - it's a way to speed up the mid to late game without getting bogged down in the tedium of destroying every last small UFO crew).
 
Incidentally I am several chapter ahead in terms of content played, so some screenshots here don't reflect the more refined strategies being used.

 

CHAPTER SIX: THE CROWS COME DOWN FROM THE CHOPPER

 

 

With Strike-One headed home, the engineers at The Lobby finish their construction of a Hunter scout car. A review is immediately conducted of the group of tank drivers pulled from NATO's forces, and as it turns out, there is one driver perfectly suited for the job ...

 

Spoiler

 

: I have studied every tome of battle and knowledge there is, from Sun Tzu's Art of War to my own masterpiece, Kaiser Arian's Big Book of War. Now pass me a whiskey. 
 
: *hiss* Get your own, this cost me $250 at the base commissary. 
 

 

Meanwhile the Xenonauts scientists have completed their expedited but thorough study of the invaders alien biology, confirming some prior theories regarding the two species of invader encountered thus far. We now have hard evidence, in the form of the common synthetic oxygen-carrying protein that allows the aliens to breath a common atmosphere makeup (and incidentally also gives them a suitably "alien" blood tint), that both species, or at least the members that we have encountered, are at least partially genetically engineered. With a common biological origin effectively impossible, this now presents the question of exactly -who- is responsible for these modifications. Did they do it themselves? Or did an outside, as yet unknown force pluck them from their planets, adapt them to suit their needs, and send them forth to be used as foot soldiers?

 

Both possibilities are equally terrifying.

 

On a slightly more positive note, the research has also allowed our scientists to modify their laboratories to serve as holding facilities for any aliens we may capture alive, and they begun pre-design work on new weapons towards that end.

 

 

For the moment, however, the bulk of the Xenonauts science team has directed their efforts towards analyzing the metallic alloys that have been recovered by Strike-One from the downed alien vessels during their ground combat operations. That multiple alien ships have survived falls from extremely high altitudes, some operating virtually sub-orbital, suggests a construction strength far beyond any known or even theorized terrestrial compounds. It is hoped that this will allow us to begin the long process of improving our soldier's arsenal.

 

 

 

Two days after the Nicaragua op, The Lobby detects UFO-5 over the western Atlantic basin, making a hard burn for the eastern seaboard. And while 'FAST JIMMY' and 'MOUSESTALKER' are able to intercept it over Maine ...

 

 

 

... as before, their Avalanche missiles are simply too heavy and too unmanouverable to bring down the extremely nimble Light Scout craft. 

 

 

 

'SEBOIST' and 'KAISER SHEPARD' take off and track the scout as it heads northward, but the ship unexpectedly dives towards the nap of the earth and sets down on the frozen south shore of Baffin Island. 

 

Have they signed a treaty with the Ice Giants? Simply after polar bear meat? With Baffin Island far beyond even the joint US-Canadian Distant Early Warning Line set up to warn of Soviet bombers or missiles coming over the North Pole, the aliens presence there is simply baffling. 

 

Nonetheless, the two pilots begin patrolling the site from a safe altitude as 'BIG SKY' takes off and heads north into the frozen Canadian arctic ...

 

 

... but not before another contact, UFO-6, appears far to the south over the Amazon rainforest. A clear pattern is beginning to emerge, with most alien incursions into the atmosphere being detected in three very specific regions. Whether these simply represent convenient approaches, or if something is drawing the aliens there, remains unclear. 

 

Nevertheless, 'FAST JIMMY' and 'MOUSESTALKER' again take off for intercept, as 'BIG SKY' finally reaches its destination in the midst of the bleak and frigid darkness of the Arctic polar night ...

 

 

* * *

OPERATION CRYPTIC MOON
25 SEPTEMBER 1979, 0859 HOURS GMT
BAFFIN ISLAND, CANADA
 

 

: I'm freezing my balls off here, Recon. 
 
: Quiet you, you come from a savage and fabled land of beasts, Australa. You should be able to handle a little cold. 
 
: My savage land is also about 40 degrees warmer than this. 
 
: Enough with your commie measurements, we hav- ...
 
Recon glances down at his rifle.
 
: My hand seems ... stuck to my rifle. 
 
: Honey, you think you're cold, this dominatrix outfit is doing absolutely nothing as a bottom layer.
 
: Maybe we should start a fire. Sing a couple songs. I'll start. "The snow glows white on the mountain ton-"
 
The rest of the squad immediately chucks their spare magazines at him while Recon manages to get his hand unstuck. 
 
: The lot of you are a bunch of sik faks. Let's get this over with. The night is dark and full of terrors-
 
: Especially Sebellians. They mostly come out at night. Mostly. 
 
: -so let us beseach the Moon Goddess' blessing ... where is the tank? 
 

 

* * *

[TheBlackBaron]

CHAPTER SIX, PART TWO

: I've got this >implyer, just keep the light on him and let me get a shot ... oh Luna, it is so f*cking cold out here ...
 

Spoiler

The freezing temperatures are clearly affecting Recon's aim, as the shot skitters wide of the Sebellian despite being plainly illuminated by the headlights of Arian's Hunter.

The rest of the squad dashes upward, doing their best to ignore the cold seeping through their meager blue uniforms, but it appears that the Sebellians despite their reptilian appearance are not cold-blooded, as the target in question takes several shots at Johnnie Walker and Gravi.

Recon, however, seems to have gotten his shivering under control as he places his next dead in the Sebellian's center of mass ...

... whereupon he is quickly finished off by the ever reliable Gravisanimi. 

: I think that's it for noSWEET FANCY WAIFU there's another one!

: Another contact to the west. 
 
 

: And another south, they've got us surrounded!
 
: Good, that means there's no way they're getting away. 
 
: Give me a stand up fight over a bug ... lizard hunt any day. 

Johnnie and Gravi let it rip, the Sebellian crumpling to the ground as its purple blood stains the snow in a kind of pretty and psychedelic way. Like something out of a Cohen brothers film or whatever.

The Sebellians make their move, but miraculously no one is hit - even Kaiser's car - as another contact moves into the edge of view.

Observer shoots and misses from point blank range with his pistol, carrying on the trend in that battle.

: Jim Bean's ghost, there's another one right there!
 
: That's it. I've had quite enough of this sh*t.
 
 

Kaiser turns his turret towards the pair and lets loose, even spotting their primary target in the process, although incredibly one of them seems to have survived the blast.

: Commander, I realize our troops have to put their own survival first, but every alien we use explosives against is one les-
 

Shut up, Vahlen, you're not even in this game.

Observer, meanwhile, takes a licking but keeps on ticking as the other aliens continue to ineffectually focus their fire on the armored car. 

Johnnie racks up another kill ...

... while Gravi finally takes matters into his own hands as he moves south to notch his third of the mission.

Dominus and Arian, meanwhile, have located yet another contact and pour it onto his position. 

: Scanners are coming up clear, Lobby, camping trip is over and the kids are in the back seat. See you back home.
 

* * *

As Strike-One heads home UFO-6, having managed to dodge Jimmy and Mousetalker's missiles, escapes into space. By this point it is clear that the MiG-32's are simply outmatched when facing agile targets like the Light Scout, and from this point on the Xenonauts Interceptor Corps will have to shift their tactics. 

Even with that final demerit, however, and the cutting of funding from other blocs that have not yet had a Xenonauts base established and are beginning to question their commitment to the project, all in all it must be said that the Xenonauts have scored some important victories as what can only be described as a successful month comes to a close.

To be continued ...

 

* * *

ON THE NEXT LET'S PLAY XENONAUTS:

ObserverStatus tries to let it go ...
 
: But I can't hold it back anymore ...
 
Johnnie Walker gets some upsetting news ...
 
: What do you mean the base isn't stocking Blue Label anymore!? 
 
And the Xenonauts explore franchising opportunities around the globe ...
 

 

[Lotion Soronarr]

By this point it is clear that the MiG-32's are simply outmatched when facing agile targets like the Light Scout, and from this point on the Xenonauts Interceptor Corps will have to shift their tactics.

 

Migs are less than ideal against list scouts and fighters.

But they CAN work.

Staggered missile launch. Never launch hall your missiles at once against things that can doge. NEVER. EVER. You want a 1-2 second delay between every missile you fire.

 

 

ObserverStatus tries to let it go ...
 
: But I can't hold it back anymore ...

 

The avatar only makes it funnier.

[TheBlackBaron]

I'm at a point right now where the light scouts have mostly disappeared, so my only real concern right now is fighters. Which, when I detect those, I can usually send out a full squadron of three (two Condors and a MiG) to deal with it.

 

Also, we're coming up on the chapters where we get some new blood into the team, now that we're into October.