[Brian Swartz]

March 21, 2335 -- It had been another quiet day. Within the last hour Jace Hunter returned to duty, but that was the only activity. Then in the last half hour we received a transmission from the Council. The Chairman's briefing was worded as follows:

"One of the scientists serving in a remote observatory used for tracking and monitoring UFO activity in Canada has come under attack. We cannot allow the aliens to threaten any personnel contributing information to the XCOM project. We'll need you to deploy a squad and ensure his safe return."

Aside from the political benefits in Canada, on offer here is 24.1 million euros and four more skilled researchers to add to Dr. Vahlen's team for a successful escort and extraction of the scientist at this observatory. That reward alone makes this an absolutely vital mission. It will be treated as a priority operation, our first, and the best we have will be sent.

XCOM's priority mission profile calls for a scout, a medic, an infantry soldier, and three other classes as needed. The best from each will be selected.

Infantry: SPEC Brooke Carter(USA, 1 mission, 0 kills)
Scout: SPEC Rebecca Burke(USA, 1 mission, 3 kills)
Medic: LCPL Lily Brodie(SCO, 2 missions, 6 kills)
**Revive
Assault: SPEC Su-Min Kim(KOR, 1 mission, 1 kill)
Gunner: SPEC Geoff Russell(USA, 1 mission, 0 kills)
Sniper: SPEC Jace Hunter(FRA, 1 mission, 3 kills)

Coffee Warlord and Ivan Drago were narrowly left off the team in favor of Burke and Kim. Jace Hunter will have to hold down the fort as far as the FOFC contingent is concerned -- he has the most accurate trigger finger in XCOM right now, narrowly ahead of Path Twelve.

Burke and Brodie carry only SMGs, their primary job is to keep the rest of the squad alive. Burke is taking a sawed-off shotgun in place of a pistol in case she gets in a tight spot. Russell has high-capacity mags to allow him a little more ammo for suppression, while the trio of Carter, Hunter, and Kim will be relied on to take down any enemy threats.

Even I am a little nervous as the Skyranger lifts off -- this is a mission that we cannot afford to fail.