The XCOM Project

Debriefing

Dr. Teodora Ricci: Agent Morozova, can you give the background for this interview?

Agent Natalia Morozova: Yes. Why?

Dr. R: I'd like you give me a baseline for the interview, and establish your relative mental solvency.

Morozova: My name is Agent Natalia Morozova. This is a debriefing for Operation Purple Mist. We got back to the [REDACTED] base about an hour ago. Do we have to do this? You've got my armor camera and I'd really like to catch some rack time.

Dr. R: Do you feel this is unnecessary?

Morozova: Yes.

Dr. R: Why?

Morozova: I just said. You have our armor cameras, I'm exhausted.

Dr. R: Wouldn't you say that this deserves a little debrief? You've just partaken in the first armed battle against alien life. I would think at the very least we should record your comments.

Morozova: [sigh] All right. We encountered a handful of small aliens. The cameras and the autopsies will describe them better than I can, but they're ugly little [REDACTED]s. Eyes all full of veins and no pupils, and no [REDACTED] mouth.

Dr. R: Do you have any observations for future engagements by other agents?

Morozova: Tak. Yes. They're weak little [REDACTED]s. We downed two of them and the last one skittered off. Looked like it didn't like the way we killed its twins. But it punched outside its weight class. I saw what those rounds did to the scenery, and whatever they are, I'd rather not get introduced. Also, next time I want to go into the field with something with a higher rate of fire. If at all possible, I'd like to be able to hose the entire group at once.

Dr. R: I'll pass that along. Did you notice anything odd about the situation? Any little details?

Morozova: Yeah. Those guys that got... I don't even know what to call it. They had those green glass webs all around them... I hope that those kind of things don't happen to anyone else, but...

Dr. R: Yes?

Morozova: No, it doesn't matter.

Dr. R: I think it might be important.

Morozova: No. It's nothing new.

Dr. R: I think it still might be important.

Morozova: No. It isn't

Dr. R: Agent Morozova, I'm responsible for Pheonix Team's psychological health. Do I need to order you to answer the question?

Morozova: Ma'am. If it had to happen to someone, I'm glad it happen to Russians.

Dr. R: That's interesting: your psych profile indicates you take a great deal of professional pride in your work. I wouldn't have expected you to be so sanguine about civilian casualties.

Morozova: I'm not, ma'am. But if it to happen to anyone, I'm glad it was them.

Dr. R: Why?

Morozova: Are you stupid! Are you really asking that [REDACTED] question?

Dr. R: I understand your parents are from Ukraine. Do you think it's productive to blame everyone for the actions of a few?

Morozova: My parents are from Donetsk. I think I've earned a little enmity with Russians. Now, if you're done here, I'm catching that rack that I need.

____________________

The adjutant padded into the Commander's office. "Sir? I have that after-action report from Pheonix team for you. It looks like they want to deploy more diverse armaments."

"Thank you, Leon. We've got some spare budget for small arms, so grant their requests within reason. Also, run that by the analysts and have their conclusions disseminated to all the other teams."

"Yes sir." The adjutant withdrew.

The Commander called up a globe, a miniature of the massive hologram in Central, and returned his attention to the conference call between the South African Air Force and Defense Intelligence Division coordinating cleanup and coverup of the recent abductions there. Most of the actual talk had devolved into very polite interdepartmental sniping by this point. The Commander was aware of the irony of his silent recriminations of brass politics given his position.

"Gentlemen, if I might make a proposal, XCOM has already been working on drawing up convincing cover stories for the incident, although we need some help from both of you. I think a few unplanned training exercises might help improve military readiness and allow the intelligence forces to do their work without so much hassle. And we'd be happy to share the results of our studies with both of your agencies."

XCOM would have its scientists on the ground and the public would be none the wiser. It couldn't go on, of course, but while it lasted it would reduce some of the panic, while buying time to come up with a more permanent solution

A flashing light on his desk brought the Commander's attention back to the present. Another incursion, this time on the outskirts of Chicago. NORAD would be in a tizzy, and he'd have to call and placate them once this was done. Bradford could handle overseeing Condor Team, but it was certainly frustrating to be stuck handling political matters while his agents were in battle.