Mission Briefing

Good evening, Sub-Division Gamma. This is the Professor from the main headquarters of Project Evolution at -----------, ---------------.                    

Given that you are the ones receiving this briefing, you should be aware of its classification as a Class 9-A mission. That is, one involving a threat too powerful for Sub-Divisions Alpha and Beta to contain. Intelligence is not very clear on the threat, so for the time being, treat this information as a class X2 document.

The document will cover the main threats, another documents detailing the strategies need to stop them is being written. ON advance you are warned that little information regarding the second threat is available, so we are afraid that you will have to improvise.

The threats, as detailed are:

Threat A-1, priority level 10.

Denomination: FRP-9, commonly known as “The Glitch.”

Threat U-1, priority level unknown.

Tentatively classified as UXP-23. Main feature is Mesopotamian-style body armor accompanied by a crown, hence “Gilgamesh.”

Currently UXP-23 has been in a passive role, having appeared in the city of ---------, England, here referred as Area-21.  Upon manifesting there, the entity has done little more than act as a statue.  Occasionally, it is capable of movement, changing the expression of its mask from angry to content. It only seems to adopt his “happy” face whenever FRP-9 is absent.

FRP-9, however, is more active and appeared at the same British city. It caused heavy destruction in the area, virtually rendered every medium of communication in the area unusable and, if readings are to be believed, caused several space distortions. Current body count is at 74, with Area-21 being the epicenter of all the attacks.

On 30/04/05, Sub-Division Alpha was sent to try and restrain FRP-09. Unexpectedly, after two hours of being there, they helped it to further the destruction, using their Project technology to destroy the communications on the zone as well. Three hours later, Sub-Division Beta went MIA after reaching Area-21.

Your objectives are, for now, the following:

- Evacuate as many civilians as possible from Area-21.

- Investigate Sub-Division Beta’s disappearance.

- Try to contain Sub-Division Alpha. If essential to the mission’s success… Stop Sub-Division Alpha. By any means necessary.

Addendum:  A message from Operative Johnson was sent to the base from Area-21. The voice did not match Johnson’s.

“Thanks for the assistance, dear Walter. This anarchy needs to stop, the world needs to see… and that will happen once that abomination of a creature stops being a nuisance. Do not heed its lies… I am here to help.  I am the help your world needs. Just let the world see me.”

The Day we Lost

Everything has been a hell for the last months… But there was a day… that day… It was the day where we really lost. 

We’ve been one of the strongest vaults… Yes, that’s how we are called. After our OWN houses stopped being safe, we had to move to safer grounds…

I don’t know if an abandoned subway line is safe, but it has worked for some good 3 years. In comparison, most vaults usually last 12 hours or less. And the results often haunt the nightmares of many… Until another attack, far more “creative” than the original, takes the headlines.

I didn’t know what made us so long-lived… At first I thought it was because we learned to avoid them. They are like animals… they would hunt where there is prey. Maybe we found a way to make us untraceable by their “senses”.

Then, I thought it was because they couldn’t reach us… We had our own water reserves, we didn’t have any reflective surfaces, and we learned to rely on each other so there couldn’t be any secrets or isolation…

Sadly, all my theories were met with a slap on the face. An old laptop we had suddenly began working, showing a transmission.

It was in the UN, or what remained of it. The Secretary General was giving a speech, to the vaults out there that were still alive…

“Don’t be afraid, people. We found a way. After all this years, we found a way to make it safer for us to live.  We managed to find our edge against them! We just need to be strong. Strong and patient. If we can endure a bit longer while the plan is executed, the payoff will be worth it. Just a bit more and this madness will end.”

We rejoiced when he pronounced those words… but the joy turned into horror when we saw the “edge” against them: Another of them. But this one was new… we didn’t remember seeing it in any board or bulletin.

It was a colossus, standing seven feet or maybe more. It was clad in some kind of armour, covering his chest and down to its knees. His arms and the rest of his legs were made of some kind of metal, as they seemed to shimmer with a golden light every time the camera panned over it. Its face was hidden by a mask of beaten gold, one inexpressive mask of beaten gold.

The creature was immobile, like a statue. It was in a very evocative position, his left hand to his chest, the right one with the thumb, the index and middle finger held together. Its face showed a serene smile, but to me, it seemed like a malicious grin.

“He is the Golden Emperor! He has been responsible for keeping them out from the western vaults. But now, he has agreed to extend his reach to the other communities!”

For a minute, we saw two blue orbs inside the two eyeholes of the Emperor’s mask. While the mask was facing the camera, those two orbs keep a constant look on the Secretary General. His face then changed. It stopped displaying a calm smile… but a victorious grin.