A Canadian MP, Willie Thorne, has been making loud noises about talking to the extraterrestrials, suing for peace and even seeking cooperation - while they rain death and terror from the skies. She blames a shadowy coalition of nations for the destruction, claiming that their belligerent attitude is responsible for turning potential friendship into an egregious war. Bollocks, but close to the bone, nonetheless.
The Council believe she is in league with the X-rays. A collaborator. And they want XCOM to bring her in for significant pause questioning.
Extraordinary rendition, by an unrecognised, covert military force. Abduction, then a meek handover for interrogation, no questions asked. Is there even any hard evidence to suggest Thorne is anything more than a crackpot? Or worse, just a public figure asking awkward questions? Are we no more than their secret police, silencing threats to the new world order?
But this isn't like Brazil, where I could put my foot down. The whole Council is pushing for this, unanimously. With India screaming about dereliction of duty and France and the UK teetering on the edge as it is, there could be serious consequences for refusing.
Without the support of the Council, we're nothing. We'd run out of fuel for the Skyranger in a month.
I can't see a choice.
*
Little stays secret for long here. Divisions are springing up across XCOM Knowle over this.
Sgt. Gryspeerdt, who has been on the wrong end of the Council's "questioning" himself, is outraged. I sympathise, but doubt I can convince him to swallow this bitter pill as I have. I may never win him over now. His viewpoint is shared by many XCOM personnel, particularly among the rookies. Sgt. Ash is clearly unhappy, though he hasn't said anything. Sq. Lambert, on the other hand, has already been reprimanded for his outspoken criticism. If he continues, he'll be cooling his heels in the stockade.
Across the divide are those with nothing but revulsion for a suspected collaborator. The idea of a human betrayal seems to have hurt them somewhere deep and vulnerable. The men and women who served at Kaduna, who saw what the aliens are doing first hand, form the hard core: the cold fury they feel towards Thorne is beyond anything they've reserved for the X-rays.
There have been scuffles in the barracks. People are knotting up, walking in closed, tight-mouthed posses. The bar is empty, silent.
I want this over with.
Selecting the strike team has been a balancing act. Twitch, Nix, Sentinel, Borg - I need them to get the job done. But can I trust them to restrain themselves? Sgt. Ash will be a moderating influence, I hope. Gryspeerdt and Lambert are out, obviously, but Langran-Goldsmith seems steady - she'll make six.
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