Mega-Primus, Earth
Senate Building
00:03 21/3/2084

Tatyana landed her hovercar in the parking garage of the senate building and jogged down the corridor; she was late for X-com’s performance review, however she had a perfectly good reason to be late.

In the large meeting room the tension was evident, the members of the senate and X-com’s funding committee sat at their various tables, no representatives from X-com’s combat force had yet arrived.  The background sound of many people murmuring was broken when a doorman announced an arrival.

"Sergeant Tatyana Akira of the Extra-terrestrial Combat Force"

The whole room turned towards Tatyana as she stood in the doorway.  It was only at this point she realised she was still wearing her armour and was covered in the blood and mud of her last battle.

"I apologise for my lateness and appearance.  As you may or may not know a small alien raiding force recently attacked and was broken up.  All alien craft were downed and, myself and Sergeant Belov were required to pin-down the crew of an alien fast attack ship, or UFO type 4".

From the back of the room the S.E.L.F representative spoke up.

"And where is sergeant Belov now?"

S.E.L.F is a recently formed organisation committed to the equality of all intelligent beings, especially in the field of android rights.

"Sergeant Belov was heavily injured during the mission and has been taken back to Hope for medical treatment.  If you will excuse me for a moment, Dr Stuart shall start our presentation on new developments in the third Alien war."
Bowing, Tatyana left the room with her helmet tucked under her arm, she hated the diplomatic world, but now she was part of it, so she was sure that she could bend its power to her advantage.

11 minutes later.

As Tatyana came back into the conference room Dr Stuart was talking and taking questions about the alien attack forces.  Tatyana moved up to the   X-com table and cleaned her bloodied sword with a napkin.  Her Dress uniform was tight and uncomfortable but Tatyana suffered it, she had her sword and a Lawpistol all carefully holstered on her belt, and these made her feel safe.  Recognising the End of Dr Stuart’s speech Tatyana straightened her uniform and calmed her mind.

"As you have just heard from Dr Stuart, the technology of the third alien war is changing rapidly, as are we.  With the increased funding we have been granted, X-com is branching out, we have started building a small manufacturing base, code named ‘Manufactory’.  Our advanced research facilities at Deep Thought went operational last night and we are about to set up an advanced combat base with the best defence, best facilities and the best staff.  This new base will be named Glory, and together with Hope we will smash the alien menace.  Tatyana stepped down from the podium and was replaced with an over-zealous government spokesman.

At the X-com table Tatyana met up with Dr Stuart and took a glass of punch, she was pleasantly surprised to find it was slightly alcoholic.

"How did you find my speech ?" Stuart was bright eyed and happy, it was an honour to speak in front of the senate and be listened to.

"Sounded good, I was out of the room for most of it but I am sure it knocked ’em dead" Stuart beamed back.  Tatyana looked into her kit bag and picked up the strange alien artefact from the last mission.  "Here you go doctor, a new toy.  It can obscure things, people, makes them almost invisible."  Stuart took the device and started to examine it closely.

Tatyana took another drink of punch and noticed that Dr Stuart did not have one, "Doctor why did you get me a drink but not get yourself one ?"

"Oh I did not get it," Stuart paused as he produced a screw-driver and a small scanner from his coat, "the Mutant Alliance Senator did, it must do them proud to have one of you high up in X-com" Stuart blushed as he realised what he had said, "I am terrible sorry for how that came out…"

Tatyana patted Dr Stuart on the shoulder and got up, hardly anyone else was taking any notice of the government rep. so Tatyana walked quickly over to the Mutant alliance table.

<Hello child> Tatyana looked straight into the senator’s eyes and replied

<Hello leader> compared with speech communication, psionic thought transference happened at the speed of light, true feelings and decisions being discussed and realised as soon as they where thought of.  A second passed, a amazing length of time when communicating psionically.

<How goes your mission?> the senator’s mind was as clear as glass to Tatyana but she still held back.

<What mission?> the senator smiled, he felt proud.

<Return to your table and enjoy your drink, that is an order> Tatyana walked back to her table, several possibilities flashing around her mind she finally came to the decision that she was not cut out for the diplomatic world.

Back at the X-com table Dr Stuart continued to fiddle with the small device, a contented smile on his face.  Tatyana sat down and took a large gulp of punch, just above the background noise Tatyana heard her name spoken by the government spokesman.

"…  sergeant Akira will be promoted to the rank of captain in the extra-terrestrial combat force, and will take over the full running of Hope.  When the newest base, Glory, is completed Captain Akira will be promoted to command Glory".  Tatyana smiled, and many people around her clapped, everything was going perfectly.

End 5.