>>2260702
>’Swamp Stank’. Since sure, why not. It sounds pretty funny in your head.

that name sounds familiar...

>>2260702
>’Vengeful Vengeance’. Redundancy is always a classic

alien bats killed our parents

>>2260702
>>’Swamp Stank’. Since sure, why not. It sounds pretty funny in your head.

>>2260702
>>’Swamp Stank’. Since sure, why not. It sounds pretty funny in your head.

File: 20171115_122617.jpg (3.3 MB, 4032x3024)

3.3 MB JPG

>>2260702
>>’Icy Fire’. Contradictions are quite good on the contrary.

Good to be back! Though, maybe I should've picked out a sweater vest instead...

>>2260702
>>’Icy Fire’. Contradictions are quite good on the contrary.

>>2260708
>>2260713
>>2260718
Operation Swamp Stank it is. Writing!

>>2260702
>>’Icy Fire’. Contradictions are quite good on the contrary.

File: Central Officer Bradford.jpg (410 KB, 1280x720)

410 KB JPG

“...Swamp Stank.” You christen. There’s a series of amused quiet chuckles in the room, Anna in particular is tittering. You’re quite proud your team shares your same sense of humor. The loud groan from the SL is an acceptable loss.

“Really?” She grunts. “You are joking.”

“It’s what the mission generator decided soldier, it’s already logged in to the archives.” You say cooly.

“But why those words? I can understand ‘swamp’ but what is the significance ‘stank’?!” The SL exasperates. Your lack of a reply causes her to mutter a string of colorful Norwegian words before the comms cut off. You let out a quiet chuckle.

Of course you leave the tidbit that you are the mission generator as an aside. Really, you don’t understand why must of the soldiers are so against your operation names. You never raised an issue with the tradition on nicknames the soldiers adopted. It makes XCOM look rather unprofessional and more like a cutthroat PMC than defenders of humanity. The idea is rubbing off into the after action reports now with the nicknames replacing actual names.

Still, you suppose it does give the troops some level of confidentiality. You’ll concede the nicknames are useful if there was a security breach. Not that you’d ever let that happen in your watch. It is confusing however remembering nicknames. There’s an Infantry who was given the nickname Gunner and--

You shake your head and sigh. You have no idea how the Commander is able to memorize everyone’s nicknames, but she does.

You get the rest of the end of mission procedures out of the way without issue, materiel recover teams dispatched, and local authorities notified for censorship. All the while coordinating with other assets globally and within XCOM HQ. At this point now it’s all but second nature to you. As you work, you catch Anna sneaking glances at you before hastily going back to writing that report when you see her. A rather common

Specialist Polis is an excellent communications officer, but if there’s anything you feel that she’d need to improve on it would be her ability to focus…especially after the third time in the past hour of spotting her do it.

>Speak to her about it directly. The sooner you address the issue the better.
>Ask your team. Perhaps Emilien or some of the others might know why Anna has been distracted as of late.
>Leave her be. Her mind and eyes may wander but she gets her job done.
>Other.

>>2260864
>>Speak to her about it directly. The sooner you address the issue the better.

>>2260864
>>>Speak to her about it directly. The sooner you address the issue the better.

Str

>>2260864
>>Speak to her about it directly. The sooner you address the issue the better.

>>2260879
Fucking- I hit the send button too fast.

>straight to the point is more Bradford's style anyways

>>2260864
>>Speak to her about it directly. The sooner you address the issue the better.

>>2260864
>>Speak to her about it directly. The sooner you address the issue the better.

>>2260864
>Speak to her about it directly. The sooner you address the issue the better.

>>2260876
>>2260881
>>2260882
>>2260887
>>2260892
>>2260910
Direct it is, writing!

File: Xcom_Anna_P.png (246 KB, 436x800)

246 KB PNG

Right. This is going to get out of hand eventually if you don’t address this now. That is the simple fact of the matter. With how much data goes through Mission Control alone, your team needs to be focused on the task at hand. You are not going to have people die if you can’t help it…
You approach Anna, the fellow American not spotting you immediately on your approach. As you get closer, you peer over to take a peek of her monitor. Instead of finding the usual data screens and more importantly the report you asked for, you instead see that Anna has several screens and a running log on… the alien’s language? The indecipherable language looking more like childish scribbles to you than anything else.

You clear your throat which promptly causes Anna to yelp in surprise, nearly spilling the can of cola on her desk.

“Uwah! Sir!” Anna spins around to attention, startled.

“Hm. Well, at least it isn’t a Civilization.” You state neutrally, recalling Emilien and some of the others using the multi-million dollar high tech consoles for… playing computer games. Shen would not have been pleased if he were to wander in. Admittedly the particular day you caught them was rather uneventful but that wasn’t exactly what you hoped from your team. You weren’t happy about that… but at the very least they were going for a military victory.

“Huh-- oh! I can explain!” Anna says taking one look at her monitor and then back at you wide-eyed. She speaks quickly, moving her hands and body about in a way that the rather odd hair cowlick in her hair seems to have a mind of its own. “I already sent my report and my designated zones to observe were empty so I was just trying to be useful elsewhere! I think I’m getting close to figuring out a basic alphabet and-”

You hold your hand up, which causes her to go silent immediately. This is probably her reason she’s been unfocused. She’s technically not even allowed access to this information unless in specific technicalities given her rank. Not to mention she wasn't keep her particular eye in the sky for alien activity… Where do you even begin with this?

>You appreciate the initiative, but she needs to go through proper channels and do this not on her shift. Go easy on her.
>This risk is not what you want from your team. Aliens could've slipped through her watch while she was distracted. Reprimand her.
>That’s… a rather interesting use of her time. You are a bit curious on what she has. Humor her.
>Other.

>>2260995
>>You appreciate the initiative, but she needs to go through proper channels and do this not on her shift. Go easy on her.

>>2260995
>>You appreciate the initiative, but she needs to go through proper channels and do this not on her shift. Go easy on her.

>>2260995
>You appreciate the initiative, but she needs to go through proper channels and do this not on her shift. Go easy on her.

>>2260995
>>You appreciate the initiative, but she needs to go through proper channels and do this not on her shift. Go easy on her.

>>2261009
>>2261011
>>2261015
>>2261024
Going east is. Writing!

File: XCOM Mission Control.jpg (373 KB, 1680x1050)

373 KB JPG

Anna looks like a deer in headlights as you regard what to do about her. While things could have gone wrong, breaking and cracking the Alien’s language was something you have put on the back burner. More pressing matters like launching and maintaining XCOM’s satellite network and supervising operations had kept things busy enough as is.

“Easy there, specialist. I’m not going to reprimand you” You say reassuringly. At that Anna sighs in relief, a weight off of her shoulder. The large cowlick on her hair drooping slightly as if mimicking her reaction. “You have good initiative there but focus on your duty first. We’re the eyes in the sky. There’s always time after your shift to work on that anyways.”

“Yes sir! Won’t happen again sir!” Anna says snapping a determined salute at that. You motion for her to be at ease. You can’t help but smile a bit at her enthusiasm, having high morale doing your job makes work go smoothly. The Commander’s baking prowess has all but confirmed that.

Anna, much more fired up after getting her off the hook settles back down to stare more attentively at her monitor, keeping a close eye on her assigned zones for any activity, courtesy of South America's Satellite. You nod at that and take a step back, opting to take a stroll around Mission Control to check on others...

>Roll 1d20.

Rolled 1 (1d20)

>>2261086

Rolled 5 (1d20)

>>2261086
Huh, wondering when this would be back.

>>2261088
Heh.

Rolled 4 (1d20)

>>2261086

File: 1501789431912.jpg (29 KB, 203x428)

29 KB JPG

>>2261088

>>2261098
>>2261088
Sounds like the average XCOM thread at this point.

>>2261088
>>2261098
One day Pixel's gonna turn a 1 at base into a base assault mission

>>2261200
*defense

>>2261200
it's gonna be great

File: Answer him.jpg (56 KB, 1280x720)

56 KB JPG

Satisfied with getting Anna sorted out you look up to see your entire team has stopped what they are doing to watch you. From peeking over console monitors or peering up from PDAs. A quick glance around you all but confirms that everyone’s suddenly stalled and taken interest in staring at you. And not at their work. Your people are just as surprised that you’ve caught them screwing up as you are.

Your feel your eye twitch as what you’re seeing sinks in. The complete and utter halt in operations to the man. Well, not everyone a voice in your mind says. Even though she was distracted, at least Anna had her work off to the side on her screen. But this…? Your mind tries to process this realization as your team quite haphazardly attempts to duck back and pretend nothing is amiss, but it’s too late.

“What the hell is going on here?!” You bark, causing Anna beside you to yelp once again, looking at you with concern before realizing it’s not her your anger is directed at but to everyone else. Your team, experts in their field and handpicked from across the world… are completely at a loss for words. They seem to you more like children caught sticking their hand in the cookie jar than XCOM personnel.

You give them five seconds for someone to answer. Far more than they deserve before you shoot a glare at Emilien. They don’t and you feel your blood start to boil.

“Well?You all better have a damn good reason for this. This isn’t amateur hour here! Answer me!" You say angrily, as you feel the itching in your sweater begin to get unbearable. You begin to scratch at it as you wait for something, anything, other than silence. Anna is just as surprised at this complete fuck up as you are. Looking wide-eyed at her colleagues around her.

“It’s… it’s-” Emilien stammers awkwardly. “--The tech would’ve caught anything if we hadn’t and--”

“Do you even know who we are fighting? Specialist?” You snap back. “Do you think the Aliens are going to care about our technology? Everything we’ve seen defies all logic and sense! If the instruments fail us we aren’t supposed to! Do you want MORE people to die specialist?”

“No sir--”

“Then why are you all trying!? If you don’t explain yourselves right now you’re all working double shifts!” You shout, scratching your sweater angrily.

“What’s going on here, Bradford?” A certain someone ask. You freeze, take a breath, and compose yourself. You spin around to see the Commander herself, regarding you and the rest of Mission Control. Her face is neutral, her smile present as always but more reserved. It’s a good question. Anna seems to shrink at the Commander’s question.

>You wish you knew! Your entire team here has become suddenly insubordinate out of nowhere!
>There’s been a miscommunication, you’re trying to get to the bottom of it.
>I’ve done something wrong here. and it’s reflecting on my men and I’m trying to fix this mess before people die.

>>2261262
>You wish you knew! Your entire team here has become suddenly insubordinate out of nowhere!

>>2261262
>>You wish you knew! Your entire team here has become suddenly insubordinate out of nowhere!

>>2261262
>>You wish you knew! Your entire team here has become suddenly insubordinate out of nowhere!

>>2261262
>>You wish you knew! Your entire team here has become suddenly insubordinate out of nowhere!

>>2261262
>You wish you knew! Your entire team here has become suddenly insubordinate out of nowhere!

>>2261262
>I’ve done something wrong here. and it’s reflecting on my men and I’m trying to fix this mess before people die.

never admit you don't know what you're doing

>>2261262
>>I’ve done something wrong here. and it’s reflecting on my men and I’m trying to fix this mess before people die.

>>2261267
>>2261269
>>2261275
>>2261279
>>2261291
You have no idea it is. Writing!

File: This is not by the numbers.png (582 KB, 608x695)

582 KB PNG

“I wish I could give you a straight answer Commander but I have no idea what’s going on with my team!” You say utterly exasperated looking over at your subordinates who have all not taken your reaction quite well, especially when the Commander is also present.. “My people are not doing their duty!”

The Commander takes a glance at the room and then back to you and almost looks like she’s… disappointed. For a second you think she’s disappointed at you specifically but you can’t tell. You don’t blame her this is a mess. The Commander considers the situation before turning her attention to you.

“Why don’t we speak quietly to the side for a moment, Bradford.” The Commander says, quietly walking over to the side without waiting for your answer.

“Get back to work.” You order your team who very quickly comply. You frown at that and walk over to the Commander who you note is idly resting her hand on the revolver at her hip with a small frown on her face as she looks at you waiting expectantly. You nod grimly at that, wincing inwardly as well at this whole fiasco. Your team tensely go back to the work while you note Anna glance about completely dismayed at her team around her before sadly going back to hers as well.

“Explain. I could hear you from the Situation Room.” The Commander says.

“Well-- like I said. I don’t exactly yet Commander.” You start shaking your head with a sigh. “Everyone was working just fine and I was taking a moment to speak with Specialist Polis but as soon as I finished I saw everyone was… It’s a mess ma’am.”

The Commander sighs at that and pinches her nose.

“Bradford, I want you to do something for me.”

“Anything, Commander.” You say, straightening your posture. The Commander knows how to deal with this.

“I want you to apologize to them.” The Commander says.

You blink.

“... Ma’am?” You say confused.

“Don’t make me repeat myself, John.” The Commander answers without missing a beat her usage of your first name throwing you off. That gets you moving before you can even react. You quickly spin on your heels and turn back to your team. They all look up, expecting the gallows until you clear your throat.

“I ah… apologize…. Carry on.” You saw awkwardly, which only is increased exponentially by the puzzled reactions of the others. Your team looks at each other and rather uneasily… goes back to worse. Anna in particular however gives you a reassuring look before hastily ducking back to work herself. At a loss for any further words you turn around and walk back to the Commander who is… a notch of a better mood.

“Do you know why I made you apologize, John?” She asks, waiting expectantly.

>Roll 1d20 OR Attempt to write in and figure it out yourself. The choice will be locked in if three people roll or if you succeed!

Rolled 7 (1d20)

>>2261429

Rolled 19 (1d20)

>>2261429

Rolled 18 (1d20)

>>2261429

Rolled 16 (1d20)

>>2261429
>I'm sorry you all were unable to preform to the commander standards.

>>2261442
thats good

>>2261451
I thought so.

File: XCOM Activity.png (257 KB, 400x400)

257 KB PNG

>>2261438
>>2261442
Locking in the 19 and that!

File: A happy Commander is a ha(...).png (98 KB, 583x1252)

98 KB PNG

You rack your mind for a moment replaying the whole scene back in your head again and realize that… well, you weren’t exactly the greatest leader screaming your head off at them. If you didn’t have any idea what was going on wrong, how would your subordinates even know? You feel like an idiot at that, then again… you admit you always were one to never accept anything that isn’t by the numbers.

“I… overreacted instead of keeping a level head and did not match the standards you expect, ma’am.” You say humbly looking down at that. This is just like the first day all over again. However, instead of being assigned to a punishment or reprimand you instead smell a certain intoxicating aroma waft from the Commander’s person. You look up and see… the Commander presenting you with a cookie?

“Good job, Central! I’m proud of you!” The Commander beams at you, using your designation instead of your name. You are surprised but oddly, it does have a nice ring to it in this context. Maybe that nickname tradition does have merit? You are a bit hesitant at taking one of the Commander’s cookies, however another whiff of it and you can’t help yourself as you take the offered baked good.

You look at the cookie and then back at the Commander again. She chuckles at your hesitation and offers it to you again. Thinking better not to question it you take it and try a bite. There’s an attempt keep a professional face but, the cookie is as just stellar as ever.

“It’s not exactly the full answer I wanted but… well… I’m sure you can work on your people skills for next time, dear. Remind me to make a batch for everyone here as well.” The Commander says with a cheerful smile. You feel at ease immediately and quickly take a mental note for her. There’s simply no way you could lead like she can, nor do you have any idea how to operate an oven really. She pats you on the shoulder

“Now that that’s sorted, I’m going to need you to do a few things for me. I don’t need them done right away but the sooner would be the better, Central.” The Commander, walking over to take a glance up at the hologlobe, you follow dutifully at her side and behind her. The others in your team clearly relieved at having dodged a bullet seeing how happy the Commander is as she passes. Anna in particular has perked up at the change in mood, humming to herself as she works away.

“What do you need, ma’am?” You ask.

“First I need a report on the status of XCOM Asia. It’s been some time since I heard from them after I assigned their new CO. Second, I’d like to know what’s the status is on the alien device that was extracted from China.” The Commander explains, which you quickly note. “Lastly, I’d like for you to take a break. Relax a bit. Socialize.”

“A… break, ma’am?” You say confused.

“You have your orders!” The Commander chuckles and with that she takes her leave. That last task is... right. Focus. You have your orders, what to do first?

>Contact XCOM Asia.
>Check up on the device.
>...Relax.
>Other.

>>2261520
>Contact XCOM Asia.

She did say in order of importance

>>2261520
>>Contact XCOM Asia.

>>2261520
>>Contact XCOM Asia.
She said do it first.

>>2261525
>>2261527
>>2261530
XCOM Asia it is, writing!

File: Spoiler Image (95 KB, 1280x720)

95 KB JPG

Well, the Commander did say how she wanted it done, best not to rock the boat after possibly nearly sinking it. You were actually wondering on the status of XCOM Asia as soon as the Commander approved the funding of a second base. The members representing the Asian countries within the Council were more than happy with the another base in Asia much to the dissatisfaction of the representatives from South America, Europe, and Africa. The North American group of course didn’t mind too much given XCOM HQ is already stationed in the NA.

You don’t envy the Commander having to play politics with the Council.

Still, the odd thing is was that the Commander had wholly focused on dealing with construction operations in XCOM Asia by herself, this would be your first time in a while you’ve heard from XCOM Asia as well. You take your leave, catching Anna watching you leave as you step into the Situation Room. You shake your head to yourself at Anna’s lack of focus once again, but you did see she’s actually working instead of on her side-project. A start.

You quickly get the line set up to contact XCOM Asia, a rather simple affair thanks to the help of Shen’s Base AI and your own rank allowing you to go past the various gates and checkpoints in the process. You wait patiently as the call begins, waiting for the other base to pick up with only a light tapping of your feet.

A short time passes and your call is received, patching you through to the smaller Mission Control of the base. You're pleased to see Mission Control looking fully operational. XCOM’s Engineering and Construction teams there were clearly bolstered by extra contractors likely sent from the Asian Council Members as a sign of good will. The reassuring sight of their Holo-globe glows in the background.

“XCOM HQ to XCOM Asia, this is Central.” You start, greeting the Comm’s specialist on the other end.

“We’re leading you loud and clear, Central. Good to hear from you.” The specialist greets, however before either you could continue someone else steps into view interrupting the commsman. A familiar shining bald head peers in. You blink in surprise as you see The UN General Peter Van Doorn appear, wearing… an XCOM Officer’s uniform? What?

“Well well well! Good to hear from ya again, Sweater! Still as fashionable as ever!” Van Doorn grins, sounding just as… cheery as last time. “Hey Friendly, get over here and take a look at this, it’s Sweaters!”

A rather uncomfortable and irritable looking man is dragged into the screen by the General. You recognize him as one of the survivors in the same op where you rescued Van Doorn. However you're more focused on the fact that Friendly is... wearing sweater like yours.

What.

>You’d really like to know how a UN General is the CO of XCOM Asia. The Commander never informed you.
>Just focus on the status report. You shouldn’t get distracted.
>...Where did Friendly get that sweater?
>Other

>>2261582
>>Just focus on the status report. You shouldn’t get distracted.

>>2261582
>>Just focus on the status report. You shouldn’t get distracted.
Focus on the job. We can rant at the bar.

>>2261582
>>...Where did Friendly get that sweater?

>>2261582
>Just focus on the status report. You shouldn’t get distracted.

File: Spoiler Image (251 KB, 450x800)

251 KB JPG

>>2261582
>...Where did Friendly get that sweater?

>>2260864
>Anna Polis

heh

>>2261582
>>...Where did Friendly get that sweater?

>>2261582
>>Just focus on the status report. You shouldn’t get distracted.

File: sleepysectoid.png (19 KB, 602x521)

19 KB PNG

Holy crap, time passed by even more quickly than I expected! As much as I want to keep going it's getting pretty late for me and it seems we're currently stuck on a tie.

Sorry everybody but I think it might be best to call it for now and extend this Bradford one-shot into a two-shot. It looks like I'm still pretty rusty and slow coming out of the hiatus.

In either case until next time, thanks for playing! It's good to be back!

>>2261608
heh indeed!

>>2261582
>>Just focus on the status report. You shouldn’t get distracted.

File: Poor.png (23 KB, 89x138)

23 KB PNG

>>2261640
>>2261642
Aaaand of course naturally as soon as I call it the tie's broken. That's XCOM baby!

I'll go with that winning vote to start off the next thread.

File: 1502522519136.png (155 KB, 545x276)

155 KB PNG

>>2261641
Aw, that's a bummer. Oh well.

Thanks for the run, Pixel!

Why does Anna look a lot like Mudhen drew her- PIXEL, YOU DIDN'T

>>2261641
See you next time, boss.

File: 1499708731201.png (39 KB, 446x443)

39 KB PNG

>>2261647

>>2261655
I feel betrayed

>>2261657
In all seriousness it's crazy, I was talking about it with him and before I even realized it he drew it for me without me asking, my style and everything.

Credit does indeed go to Mudhen, he's a great artist and kudos should definately go to him!

File: 1424741945623.gif (923 KB, 245x200)

923 KB GIF

>>2261675
Traitor

Gotta admit, it does fit Anna, though.

>>2261641
SLEEP TIGHT AYY LAMO