For about eight or so days, activity at Firstlight was fairly low.
We ordered more ammunition for our interceptors and HWP, as well as a second tank to keep in reserve.
Nine days after initial contact, we detected a second UFO, this time in the Sahara. Our radar had determined it was at ground level. Had it crashed, or had it landed on its own? Firstlight's Skyranger was immediately deployed to the site.
The same agents that were deployed in the previous operation were deployed here as well. The autocannon was given to Zengar this time. ?Throwing Arm? was again given flares, and all other operatives were assigned the standard loadout of a rifle, spare clip, grenade, and emergency pistol.
What follows is the transmission log for the operation.
PURVIS: Skyranger at deployment zone, ready to move out. Anthony, send the HWP out to do recon.
ANTHONY: Confirmed. Moving out.
ANTHONY: I've got an ET, sir. Looks different from the ones we encountered last time. Permission to fire?
PURVIS: Negative, you might hit the Skyranger from that angle.
ANTHONY: Changing position, then.
ANTHONY: I'm going to need a bit more time to get a lock.
?TOKEN WOMAN?: I'm going down to back up the HWP.
?TOKEN WOMAN?: Missed...
?TOKEN WOMAN?: ET is opening fire, I repeat, ET is openi-
PURVIS: What's going on down there? Anthony, you got a read on the situation?
ANTHONY: Don't see any wounds, sir, I think whatever that was only knocked her out.
ANTHONY: Should be locked on in about a second, I've got a clear shot.
PURVIS: All right then, fire at will.
ANTHONY: Got it, sir.
PURVIS: All right, we're clear to deploy.
?THROWING ARM?: Confirmed. Setting out flares.
?THROWING ARM?: We've found the ship, sir. Looks bigger than the last one.
PURVIS: All right, then. The area looks clear, prepare to advance.
ZENGAR: I'll light up the surrounding area.
ZENGAR: ...how the hell does sand burn?
?THROWING ARM?: We've found the entrance to the ship, looks clear.
ANTHONY: I've got the HWP overlooking the ship, ready to provide fire support.
PURVIS: Got it. Kusanagi, Shrimp and I will circle around the back. Zengar, Throwing Arm, you hold your current position. Muscles, provide backup for Zengar and Arm. Pitching, you keep an eye on Token.
ZENGAR: Muscles is here, we're ready to move on the ship when you arrive.
PURVIS: Okay, we're ready to move in on this end. Anthony, you may stand down now.
PURVIS: Okay, we're ready to move in on the ship. Shrimp, Muscles, you go in first, then Kusanagi and I will provide support.
?SHRIMP?: This isn't because we're the rookies, is it?
PURVIS: No.
?MUSCLES?: I've spotted something on the left side of the ship, sir.
PURVIS: Fire at will.
?MUSCLES?: Damn it, missed!
PURVIS: Kusanagi, what about you?
KUSANAGI: I can't get a clear shot... it's firing at me, sir.
PURVIS: You okay?
KUSANAGI: Yeah, it missed.
PURVIS: Okay. Throwing Arm, toss a grenade in there.
?THROWING ARM?: All right. Fire in the hole!
PURVIS: Sounded like you got it. Shrimp, go confirm the kill.
?SHRIMP?: I don't see a body, sir. I see something on the floor that might have been a body... can I get new boots when we're done this mission?
?MUSCLES?: That'll have to wait, me and Throwing Arm are under fire on this end... I think they hit my arm.
?MUSCLES?: Okay, ET here is down. My arm's messed up pretty bad, I don't think I'll be able to shoot properly with it. You'll have to clear the rest of the ship without me.
PURVIS: Confirmed, take care of yourself over there.
?THROWING ARM?: We've got another ET in the cockpit.
PURVIS: I'll go around and try and get it from behind... not enough time to get a clear shot, sorry.
?THROWING ARM?: Never mind, I got it.
[END TRANSMISSION]
Despite some injuries, we successfully recovered this alien craft completely intact. ?Token Woman? regained consciousness during the return to Firstlight. ?Muscles? is receiving medical treatment, and is expected to return to service in eleven days.
Several agents involved in the operation have been promoted. Kusanagi, ?Throwing Arm?, and ?Muscles? have been promoted to Sergeant. Purvis has been further promoted to the rank of Captain.
We have obtained more unknown equipment from the recovery operation. Unlike the previous batch, which clearly appeared to be weapons of some sort, the purpose of these objects are unclear.
Shortly after the operation, R&D informed us that they had completed the development of the laser pistol and it is ready to go into production. They also further informed us that they could develop a rifle from the same technology; research already began on that project.
An order was immediately sent in to our in-house manufacturing division at Firstlight for laser pistols to equip all of our currently active agents.
...while this second mission was successful, it raises extremely troubling questions. Why have we encountered two different kinds of alien, both using what appears to be roughly the same technology? Are we facing an invasion from a biologically diverse alien world, or an alliance of multiple alien species plotting against us? Are there species active on Earth that we haven't detected yet, and if so, how many? The battle for humanity is becoming more complex than we could ever assume. If we are to win, we must find out everything we can about our enemy; who they are, how their technology works, and where they are striking from.