History
1947
The 509th Bomb Group regiment of the Army Air Corps were the first to officially report the crash of a "flying disk" in the desert near Roswell, deep within New Mexico. The original report explained that of the three occupants of what was termed a "UFO" (Unidentified Flying Object), one had survived the crash. Two had died. Before daybreak, however, government agencies had rapidly acted to retract this version of events, instead claiming that the "UFO" was in fact a weather balloon.
2009
For the last sixty two years, men and women (many of them American in nationality) have claimed to have been abducted by alien lifeforms. Many claim to have been abused, or impregnated, or tested upon, or questioned. Most of the world chose to ignore these "crackpots", focusing instead upon the more mundane everyday events that plague us all. However, 62 years after the Roswell incident, UFO sightings across the world skyrocket. Whilst this is at first believed to be caused by tabloid hype of the anniversary, after several legitimate video recordings are made of UFO's traveling across the sky soon intellectuals, officials and the legitimate press join the ranks of "the believers". One of the most popular headlines at this time is "We Are Not Alone". Whilst this has been claimed and theorized by many, it has never been proved.
2010
Credible reports of human abductions steadily filter into government files and the press. These abductions all follow a similar pattern - the victims inhabited rural areas with a low population density, and the UFO fled before any interception could be attempted. The governments of the world, worrying at what this might really mean, begin to bring their armed forces to a state of full combat readiness. Contact is attempted, but no results are forthcoming. As the abductions continue, military action is considered to defend the peoples of the world, but the UFO's are mostly invisible to radar. Japan strangely takes the lead and forms the 'Kiryu-Kai' - the first anti-alien combat force. They are equipped with the very latest Japanese military equipment, which is mostly made elsewhere, and are manned by the country's finest, but after five months the Japanese government chooses to disband the unit due to them not encountering a single UFO. At least, that was the official version.
The United Nations was the next to take action. On the 11th of December, 2010, the Security Council gathered in Geneva to decide upon a course of action. It is eventually decided by the representatives of the world's nations that the only way to combat the aliens is to present a united front. Together, they agree to form a covert, multi-national military-based unit to investigate the alien threat and gauge it's depth. This organization is known as X-INV. This is where history ends and the game begins.
It is Monday March 14th, 2011, 0700 hours Zulu when the party arrives at a secret training base in Northern Ireland. Welcome to X-INV The Alien Threat.
Investigation Protocols:
Be especially sensitive to the following types of evidence:
� Ground impressions
� Burned and/or desiccated soil
� Burned and broken foliage
� Magnetic anomalies
� Increased radiation levels
� Metallic traces
� Animal/cattle mutilation
� Biological effects on plants such as increased or decreased growth
� Recorded gravimetric and magnetic disturbances
� Physiological effects on people and animals including temporary paralysis, skin burns and rashes, corneal burns, and symptoms superficially resembling radiation poisoning
� Electromagnetic interference (EM) effects, including stalled cars, power black-outs, radio/TV interference, magnetic compass deflections, and aircraft navigation, communication, and engine disruption
� Remote radiation detection
Vallée UFO Classification System
-Check off as appropriate:
Type - I (a, b,c, d)- Observation of an unusual object, spherical discoidal, or of another geometry, on or situated close to the ground (tree height, or lower), which may be associated with traces - thermal, luminous, or mechanical effects.
_a - On or near ground.
_b - Near or over body of water.
_c - Occupants appear to display interest in witnesses by gestures or luminous signals.
_d - Object appears to be �scouting� a terrestrial vehicle.
Type - II (a, b,c) - Observation of an unusual object with vertical cylindrical formation in the sky, associated with a diffuse cloud. This phenomenon has been given various names such as �cloud-cigar� or �cloud-sphere.�
_a - Moving erratically through the sky
_b - Object is stationary and gives rise to secondary objects (sometimes referred to as �satellite objects�)
_c - Object is surrounded by secondary objects
Type - III (a, b,c, d,e)- Observation of an unusual object of spherical, discoidal or elliptical shape, stationary in the sky.
_a - Hovering between two periods of motion with �falling-leaf� descent, up and down, or pendulum motion
_b - Interruption of continuous flight to hover and then continue motion
_c - Alters appearance while hovering - e.g., change of luminosity, generation of secondary object, etc.
_d - �Dogfights� or swarming among several objects
_e - Trajectory abruptly altered during continuous flight to fly slowly above a certain area, circle, or suddenly change course
Type IV (a, b,c, d) - Observation of an unusual object in continuous flight.
_a - Continuous flight
_b - Trajectory affected by nearby conventional aircraft
_c - Formation flight
_d - Wavy or zig-zag trajectory
Type V (a, b,c)- Observation of an unusual object of indistinct appearance, i.e., appearing to be not fully material or solid in structure.
_a - Extended apparent diameter, non-point source luminous objects (�fuzzy�)
_b - Starlike objects (point source), motionless for extended periods
_c - Starlike objects rapidly crossing the sky, possibly with peculiar trajectories
This is a short prequel to my X-COM Area 51 mod, to allow players to experience levels 1-4 in a low combat setting. I haven't run it yet, so it may have some errors, and I'm not sure how many sessions it would take, but not many.
It uses the excellent Wildlands tileset by 666 and the also excellent Atlantis/Aztec2 tileset by mondego, and of course Worms Seasonal Forest 10, which I never build without. Can't find Wildlands in the hak link list, so it's below:
Posted by Dartanbeck at 2009-12-13 11:41:52 Voted 10.00 on 12/13/09
I really LOVE this!
Awesome implementation of the d20 Modern setting! Thanks for this!
Posted by Rotku_ at 2009-12-10 16:55:23 Voted 9.00 on 12/10/09
Very enjoyable module. Game went nice and smoothly, can't think of any real flaws or suggestions to make. So thank you Mulu - a nice contribution to the community.
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at 2009-12-13 11:41:52
