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Alien Combat Unit Encounter Debrief
Entry 1: Briefing and Deployment
We were dispatched at first light to investigate unusual energy readings in Sector 12-B. Command suspected it might be residual activity from the alien combat unit reported a week ago near the planet Hallmark, but no direct contact had been confirmed since then. Our orders were simple: observe and report.
Echo Squad consisted of six Marines, equipped with standard MDF combat gear, including augmented reality helmets, pulse rifles, and one Recon Sentinel drone. Morale was steady—we’d seen combat before, but nothing quite like what we were warned about.
“Expect the unexpected,” Captain Myers said during the briefing. A cliché, but in the Pittman War Zone, it’s a survival mantra.
Entry 2: Initial Encounter
We reached the coordinates by mid-afternoon. The terrain was rugged and scarred by previous engagements—craters, shattered rock formations, and the charred remains of an old MDF hover transport.
The drone picked up movement 500 meters ahead. At first, it looked like nothing more than shifting shadows. Then they emerged.
The aliens were unlike anything we’d seen. Bipedal, roughly three meters tall, their exoskeletons shimmered in the low light like liquid metal. Their movements were unnervingly smooth, almost fluid. Their weapons, sleek and organic in design, emitted a low-frequency hum that made my teeth ache.
Entry 3: The Ambush
We held position, but they didn’t give us a chance to observe for long. The first shot came out of nowhere—a concentrated energy blast that incinerated our drone before we could even react.
“Take cover!” I barked, diving behind a jagged boulder. The rest of the squad scattered into defensive positions. The aliens advanced with precision, their movements coordinated in a way that felt almost telepathic.
Their weapons were devastating. One blast disintegrated the outcrop Corporal Davis was using as cover. He didn’t stand a chance.
Our return fire barely slowed them down. Standard-issue pulse rounds dissipated harmlessly against their exoskeletons. I switched to explosive rounds, managing to stagger one, but it quickly adapted, its armor hardening in response.
Entry 4: Tactical Adjustment
Pinned down and outgunned, we improvised. Private Singh deployed a portable EMP device—a last-resort measure designed for disabling enemy tech. When it detonated, the aliens hesitated, their movements stuttering for a critical moment.
“Now! Focus fire!” I yelled.
The EMP gave us a brief window to strike. A well-placed grenade from Specialist Ortega took down one of the aliens, its exoskeleton collapsing like shattered glass. The others adapted quickly, retreating momentarily before regrouping.
Their adaptability was terrifying. They seemed to learn from every move we made, countering our tactics with unnerving speed.
Entry 5: The Retreat
Realizing we couldn’t hold out much longer, I called for an extraction. Our position was untenable, and staying would have meant annihilation.
As we fell back, the aliens pursued relentlessly. Their weapons weren’t just deadly—they were designed to sow chaos, creating disorienting energy distortions that warped the air around us.
By the time the dropship arrived, we were down to four. Corporal Harris covered our retreat, but he didn’t make it. His last words over comms: “Don’t let them win.”
The dropship’s automated turrets provided just enough cover for us to board. As we lifted off, I caught a final glimpse of the aliens. They stood motionless, watching, as if letting us go was part of their plan.
Entry 6: Post-Engagement Analysis
Back at Outpost Sentinel, the debrief was grim. Echo Squad is down to four members, and morale is at rock bottom.
Key Observations:
1. Tactics and Coordination: The aliens operate as a single, unified entity. Their ability to adapt mid-combat suggests a hive-mind or advanced battlefield AI.
2. Strengths: Near-impenetrable exoskeletons, high-mobility weapons, and superior situational awareness.
3. Weaknesses: Vulnerable to EMPs and explosive ordinance, though only briefly.
Recommendations:
- Develop countermeasures for adaptive armor.
- Equip all squads with EMP devices as standard.
- Prioritize intelligence gathering on alien tactics and technology.
Entry 7: Reflection and Resolve
I’ve fought battles before, but nothing like this. The aliens aren’t just enemies—they’re a force of nature, unstoppable and unrelenting.
As I write this, I can’t help but think about Corporal Harris and the others we lost. Their sacrifice bought us time to warn Command, but the cost was steep.
We can’t afford to underestimate these aliens again. Pittman is their battlefield now, but it won’t be forever. One way or another, we’ll find a way to beat them.
For Harris. For Echo Squad. For humanity.
End Log.
Alien Combat Unit Encounter Debrief
Location: Outpost Sentinel, Southern Ridge, Planet Pittman
Unit Designation: Echo Squad, MDF 4th Battalion
Mission: Reconnaissance Patrol in Grid Sector 12-B
Log Entry by: Sergeant Elias Kane
Date: 2157.03.18