Science Laboratories:
Capture Tech [4days]:
With the approval from Commander Hawking to proceed with developing the capture technology, the team would begin designing a capture device that is portable and can hold a few charges for the field teams to use. Human tasers would not be reliable as it may stun the enemy but not knock them out. There carries also a high risk they could resist such a limited electrical charge of a human taser device, and that's assuming both probes could penetrate their skins altogether. Taking the biological data they could gather from the autopsies of the aliens, they would begin designing the capture device from a general base idea first. From there they would begin experimenting on the electrical discharge the device would need to shoot out that did not rely on physical probes. It will need to have a high electric discharge that would not only paralyze the enemy subject but to also disrupt their neural activity temporarily to prevent them from waking up upon the paralyzing effects wearing off in order for the science teams to contain the live alien. Not only that, a proper battery device needs to power the device for multiple uses while not being a bulky hold. Designing the device would be two days work as they worked out the schematics for fabrication. Once a design has been implemented, Engineering would fabricate the device for testing. On the third day A pair of grunts were ordered to be test subjects for the trial runs, as there are no live aliens to test it on in the first place. The first human was paralyzed and knocked down as expected but the neuroblocking effect was less than optimal as he would be able to push himself back up with limited use of his limbs. Subject was sent to medical for treatment with no lasting effects. The second grunt, after adjustments to the output matrix and power flow, was found to completely be paralyzed and blacked out from the shock. Science team believes they have found the correct settings. A fourth day to fine tune the device and adjust the design specification for ease of use. The Arc Thrower has been researched and ready for manufacture at engineering.
It is warned though that although it was effective on human trials, it remains to be seen of the effects on aliens. It is recommended that the field team should wound the alien without killing it, then use the Arch Thrower on the alien for capture. It is also a short range device, requiring the soldier to get in close to the alien to be useable. Even then, caution is to be exercised as it is not a guarantee the arc thrower would successfully knock out the alien. Now it'll be up to Doctor Laura England to figure out a way how to communicate with the captured aliens.
Sectoid autopsy [2 days]
Orders were given that the autopsy of the smaller sectoids shall begin. Science teams decontaminated the autopsy room and took a pair of sectoid bodies out of cold storage to begin the study. As with the Sectoid commander, their skin was as hard as a humans, easily cuttable. Their heads only appear to be bigger due to the smaller bodies but the commanders would have far larger brain size and mass. Still there appears to be residual energy coming from their brain mass, particularly their frontal lobes. Their internal organs are quite a mess, a seemingly scramble of various organs without thought of organization. Their vocal cords and testicular organs have atrophied, meaning that they must communicate by other means, likely telepathy based on the mental attacks the squad has been experiencing. Strangely, despite the mess of organs in their bodies, the two have identical placements of these organs, and if taking as example from previous autopsies, they must be genetic clones of each other. A second day would be spent on DNA examination and their hypothesis is correct, that these sectoids are genetic clones and likely engineering this way. There are talks that these aliens are mass produced and can simply outnumber humanity if they wanted. Their DNA also produced pheromone strands that , when alive, would also produce a sort of invisible and tasteless scent that could render the male population incapacitated. Such smells would attach to the male scent receptors and produce the effects of acute vertigo. This information will need further research, but it's likely that most of the aliens encountered may have such passive effects on the male population until they are killed.
As a bonus to the autopsy, the team discovered a few intact electronics in their skulls. Research can be looked into but it's a guess that these devices may assist the sectoids in their aims when given a certain energy connection, likely their mental connection from a partner. Such a replicated device for an aim assist can't be replicated for a human, but perhaps a temporary install on an interceptor's targeting computers can help direct their weapons fire for a likely hit chance. Such a device would require sectoid electronics to replicate for human use, but can be extracted from a sectoid body for engineering to produce from on your orders.
Engineering
Orders came down from command that an auxiliary Laboratory would be constructed in an open underground cavern opening. Construction teams began to bring foundation materials and construction supplies to begin construction of the requested facility. CAre has to be taken so they do not affect the base structural integrity and power grid. 3 days would pass before the flooring was completed, the walls and suport structures were installed, and the room schematics were laid out and equipment installed. Lab equipment was hauled in and set up in place, with isolation rooms and decontamination rooms were set up. While not as impressive as the main research labs, this auxiliary lab would prove useful in sharing the workload and analyzing of data of the research projects and reduce the time needed to be spent.
Meanwhile the team would meet with Imani Rowe as they have to modify the holding chamber to counter the aliens attempts to escape. "We could try to fortify the walls and glass, but what if the aliens try to mental their way out?" said an irish engineer as they were trying to redesign the capture chamber. What they needed was a way to dampen the aliens and maybe hold them down, but the team were coming up with nothing at the moment. Perhaps a project from Imani's past would fit, as a pair of robotic arms that would have electrical emitters that produces a high electric discharge field to suppress the aliens.
Barracks
Lewis took a drink from the bottle as Jessie offered a game at the pool table. He raised his eyebrow with a grin as he got off the bar chair. "Lets make it a bit interesting. What are the stakes?" he said to Jessie as he walked with her over to the pool table. Another soldier would take out the balls and set them up in the triangle, passing the both of them the wooden poles to play with. "Lets say that I win, you'll drink four bottles of beer at once, poured over top your mouth, and I take a selfie pic with you while you do it," he suggested as he took the blue scuffer to rub on the pool tip and let Jessie take the first shot.
Corporal Sherman would be near the dart boards and waved to Nadia. "Corporal Volkov. I saw your shooting on the after action report. That's some good shots you made. How about some darts," he said to her as he would set up some bottles of beer on the table next to the darts. He would take his set and would aim throw it quite well , hitting most near the center.
Sergeant Juanu Armstrong, a Spanish sergeant who was supposed to be a field operative but now reassigned to base security and possible reserve force as a last resort. He did not resent the fact that he is to be held back while the women were sent as field operatives. There was no choice as it was the aliens who made it this kind of war. He saw Emily by the wall memorial and held a beer bottle to her. "What are you thinking Captain? None of us knew what the aliens could do out there," he said to her as he looked at the three dead male operatives from the first mission. How the aliens are fighting dirty by taking out half the fighting power of humanity and making the fight even more perilous for women.
A young Irish private would come with a group to surround Ayumi at the table corner she was sitting at. "Hey love. What are you doing here all alone and watching everybody? Come join the fun," he said as he would then take out a case of beer and set it on the table. "How about this? A drinking contest with yours truly. If I win, you come join the fun, if you win, we do what you want," he said to her as he held out a fresh beer bottle to her.
With Zola, some Corporals were taking her over to the free pool table to invite her for a game. "Welcome to the party, and to XCOM. How did your first mission go?" said a French corporal at the table as he would hit first on the balls and then let Zola hit next. A fresh beer bottle was set down on the table just for her. There was no scorn that she somehow fell victim to alien influence, and that being alive and making it back was already an accomplishment in itself.
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