The vote is now closed.

Q3 2016 Results

Five different A-Class UFOs are spotted and engaged by INDEX during the third quarter of 2016. The first off Lake Tanganyika's coastline in the Democratic Republic of Congo where the alien spacecraft flew over the wilderness before INDEX got a flight of interceptors into the region. While the UFO was ultimately shot down, INDEX lost an interceptor in the process.

The next two UFOs were spotted over the ocean, far from any landmass. The first of these was south-west of Australia while the second was south-east of Manra Island. While the former was defeated and shot down without difficulty, the second one put up a fierce fight. One INDEX interceptor was shot down while two more were driven off with severe damage and it took the arrival of a second squadron to bring down the UFO.

The fourth UFO was in the desert of Libya, east of the oasis called Buzema. Like the previous UFO spotted in Africa this quarter, it was eventually shot down, but INDEX lost one of its fighters in the process.

The final UFO was in Yemen where it appeared along the outskirts of Al Hudaydah. A swift response in the form of a squadron of interceptors from Charlie Base sees to the swift destruction of the alien spacecraft.

Council Members
Argentina = Strong Support (+15 Resources, +1 to Dice Rolls)
Australia = Mild Support (+24 Resources)
Brazil = Mild Support (+18 Resources)
Canada = Strong Support (+30 Resources, +1 to Dice Rolls)
China = Strong Support (+45 Resources)
Egypt = Full Support (+9 Resources, +2 to Dice Rolls, +1 PS per turn, +5 Progress to Charlie Base per turn)
France = Neutral (+20 Resources)
Germany = Neutral (+20 Resources)
India = Mild Support (+24 Resources)
Japan = Strong Support (+30 Resources)
Mexico = Strong Support (+30 Resources, +1 to Dice Rolls)
Nigeria = Strong Support (+15 Resources, +1 to Dice Rolls)
Russia = Neutral (+20 Resources)
South Africa = Strong Support (+7 Resources, +1 to Dice Rolls)
United Kingdom = Strong Support (+30 Resources, +1 to Dice Rolls)
United States = Neutral (+40 Resources)

Stats.
Resources (R): 383 + 53 in reserve.
Political Support (PS): 63 (-1 per turn) (+2 per turn)
Free Dice: 1

Basing: Major Surpluses (+22)
Logistics: Moderate Surpluses (+6)
Manpower: Massive Reserves (+23) (+1 per turn)
Gear: Moderate Surpluses (+7)
Fuel: Moderate Surpluses (+7)
Medical: Moderate Surpluses (+6)
Supplies: Moderate Surpluses (+9)
Salvage: Major Surpluses (+11)

Infrastructure (3 Dice): +14

[-] Delta Base (Stage 2)
Located in the Scottish Highlands, Delta Base will be the centre of INDEX operations in Europe. Located in his home country, the Director has indicated that he intends for Delta Base to be the unofficial primary HQ for INDEX.
(229/150, 10 Resources per Die) (+4 Basing) (+1 PS)
(79/200, 10 Resources per Die) (+5 Basing, +1 to Administration Dice, +1 to all Dice)

Despite the grumbling of both the French and the German governments, the second stage of Delta Base is completed this quarter and work begins on the third stage. The completion of this stage has earnt INDEX the gratitude of the British government while Commander Tariq has earnt the gratitude of Director Ambrosius. While the current stage isn't giving any overly noticeable benefits, the additional construction done at Delta Base is helpful in improving the administrative structure of INDEX, allowing the organisation to be run more smoothly.

Of course upgrading Delta Base has other benefits as well. Not only is there substantial space for INDEX to use for in-house projects, but the military capabilities of Delta Base have been appreciatively enhanced as well. From the armouries, barracks and garages of the ground forces to the hangars of the air force, Delta Base's capabilities have been at least doubled, including some meaningful defensive assets should the INDEX base ever be attacked.

[-] Enigma Site (Stage 2)
While INDEX has laid claim to the crashed UFO in the Antarctic, it still needs to make use of it. With the lack of local facilities, INDEX will need to build some of its own and given the potential treasure trove of the ship, Director Ambrosius wants his organisation to get started on it sooner rather than later.
(227/200, 20 Resources per Die) (+1 PS) (High Priority)
(27/300, 10 Resources per Die) (+1 PS) (+1 to Research Dice)

With the arrival of the research equipment, the second stage of Enigma Site has finally completed. Thanks to the installation of the new equipment, the INDEX researchers can work on-site and more effectively study the crashed UFO though the work won't truly begin until INDEX begins to study the internal parts of the alien spacecraft. Reaching that point is the focus on the third stage of Enigma Site and with the excess budget and time, some preliminary work has already begun.

Industry (4 Dice): +19

[-] Stockpile Mechanical Parts (Phase 2)
Purchase or otherwise acquire additional spare parts for the mechanical equipment used by INDEX. While INDEX is not currently suffering a shortage, the relatively calm may be a good point to stockpile for future emergencies.
(99+15/100, 5 Resources per Die) (+2 Gear, -1 Basing)
(14/100, 5 Resources per Die) (+2 Gear, -1 Basing)

Continuing its efforts from previous months, INDEX continues to stockpile spare parts for its various vehicles and machinery in its bases.

[-] Stockpile Fuel Reserves (Phase 2)
Purchase or otherwise acquire additional fuel reserves for the vehicles used by INDEX. While INDEX is not currently suffering a shortage, the relatively calm may be a good point to stockpile for future emergencies.
(117/100, 5 Resources per Die) (+2 Fuel, -1 Basing)
(17/100, 5 Resources per Die) (+2 Fuel, -1 Basing)

Likewise with its fuel reserves, INDEX continues to stockpile an emergency supply in its bases.

[-] Stockpile Medical Supplies (Phase 1)
Purchase or otherwise acquire additional medical supplies to be used by INDEX. While INDEX is not currently suffering a shortage, the relatively calm may be a good point to stockpile for future emergencies.
(83/100, 5 Resources per Die) (+2 Medical)

Due to an unfortunate shortage of medical supplies this quarter, INDEX has been limited in its ability to set up its medical supply stockpiles and will require another round of funding and resources before it is completed.

[-] Stockpile Basic Supplies (Phase 1)
Purchase or otherwise acquire additional basic necessaries to be used by INDEX on a day to day basis. While INDEX is not currently suffering a shortage, the relatively calm may be a good point to stockpile for future emergencies.
(183/100, 5 Resources per Die) (+2 Supplies)
(83/100, 5 Resources per Die) (+2 Supplies, -1 Basing)

The inverse of the situation with the medical supplies, INDEX sees substantial success when it comes to amassing a stockpile of basic goods. Multiple warehouses are filled up across the countries of the INDEX Council and INDEX makes good progress on initial stockpiles in its own bases.

Services (4 Dice): +14

[-] PR Campaigns
To help improve its public image and drum up more support for its operations, INDEX will engage in public relations campaigns.
-[-] Asia (185/150, 10 Resources per Die) (+1 PS, Potential Increased Council Support)
-[-] Africa (242/150, 10 Resources per Die) (+1 PS, Potential Increased Council Support)
-[-] Middle East (92/150, 10 Resources per Die) (+1 PS)

The final stage of INDEX's PR campaigns has begun. While the INDEX will keep up its PR work, it will be a matter of maintaining its current position rather than making new ground once it has successfully reached all of the world's regions. The work in Asia completes as expected and the work in Africa begins, which ends up exceeding all expectations.

The PR Office of INDEX is able to greatly leverage Commander Farah Tariq of the Finance Division's status as a native African in the second-highest position in INDEX. The idea that the people of Africa aren't being ignored or left behind by INDEX in favour of richer and more developed countries quickly takes hold, especially in South Africa and Nigeria. The real prize is in Commander Tariq's homeland of Egypt where she is seen as a prodigal daughter and a shining example of Egypt's commitment to fighting back the alien invasion. As the final months of the year approach, no other country is more committed to the INDEX Initiative than Egypt, who have thrown the full extent of their limited resources behind INDEX.

Research (4 Dice): +21

[-] Functional Laser Weaponry
Between power and ranged concerns, functional laser weaponry is something of a pipe dream at the moment. While INDEX can investigate the possibility and fund development, your researchers warn you that it will be years before you see any return.
(49/900, 40 Resources per Die) (+1 PS)

The first true steps of research into functional and effective laser weapons have been taken thanks to the insistence of the INDEX Council. Unfortunately the progress made so far has been limited as while basic understanding of the alien handguns, alloys and compounds has helped, only so much can be done with the limited funding given to the project.

[-] Alien Autopsy
Over the last quarter, INDEX has acquired several partially-intact alien corpses. Studying these remains and performing autopsy could increase our understanding of how the aliens function and identify some possible weaknesses to exploit.
(180/280, 40 Resources per Die) (-1 Salvage)

The autopsies of the various aliens have been performed from crew of the UFOs to the soldiers deployed in the attacks on Wuhan and Enigma Site to the infiltrators found in INDEX earlier this year. With no serious complications taking place, the researchers just need time to study their findings and compile a report for the rest of INDEX and the INDEX Council.

Military (6 Dice): +9

[-] Signal Interceptor Development
The alien infiltrators sent off a signal before they were captured, but due to a lack of equipment, the Security Division was unable to intercept or trace it. To help prevent future situations like this, the Security Division would develop that missing equipment. Unfortunately, the lack of understanding of the alien technology will hinder this project, making it harder than it would otherwise be.
(132/500, 30 Resources per Die)

The Security Division has begun to develop a method of intercepting alien signals sent by infiltrators like the one that they missed. They have swiftly run into the roadblock of actually identifying the signal as compared to human electronic communications. The exact reason why is unknown, which is part of the problem as not knowing why it is different is causing trouble with identifying it for tracking. While the researchers have made substantial progress into resolving this issue, the project is still stuck on its first roadblock.

Administration (3 Dice): +9

[-] Security Review (Industry)
Whether it be from a terrestrial or exterrestrial source, INDEX can expect external organisations to try and infiltrate it. Review one of its departments to see if INDEX can sniff out any spies or corruption within its ranks.
(148) (DC40)

When it comes to the security sweep this quarter, the Security Division does excellent work. While the planned review of the Industry Division results in the division coming up, the real prize turns out to be in the Infrastructure Division thanks to a couple of Security Division personnel seizing the initiative. Noticing something off in the other division, the security officers decided to perform a little investigation of their own as they spotted something unusual about some of the new hires.

Their hunch and hard work paid off as four alien infiltrators were found trying to join the Infrastructure Division of INDEX. While the alien infiltrators were stopped, Security Division was unable to take them alive. Regardless, stopping the infiltration of part of INDEX is a victory in its own right.

In similar news, Turkey claims to have purged alien infiltrators from its government though the fact that it isn't part of the INDEX Initiative limits INDEX's ability to investigate such claims.

[-] Sell Salvage
While INDEX gets all alien salvage by default as per the terms of the INDEX Initiative, it isn't required to keep all of that salvage. The organisation is entirely within its rights to sell some alien salvage if it requires an influx of extra budget.
(Requires one die) (-1 Salvage, +25 Resources)

With more alien salvage than it can make use of and an insufficient amount of funding, INDEX has chosen to sell some of its alien salvage to countries of the INDEX Council. Doing its best to remain impartial in who gets what, INDEX has made a significant amount of additional budget from its sales.


Update is finally done. Sorry about how long it took, but I got distracted by other things while I was writing it. Anyway, a good turn and your luck of taking down the UFOs continues though it was a bit closer than usual this turn.

Please point out any spelling or grammar mistakes that you spot. Please quote them in the thread and explain what you think is wrong so I know what you are referring to. Feel free to ask questions for more details and information.