The Comeback

The Comeback is the third event in Agency RP and serves as the lore of the second invasion of the Xandrians. Only damages to weaponary are seen.

## Preparation

`They are returning.`

`With the help of space telescopes and probes, a weird movement is spotted at the Utopia Planitia and it is suggested that the Xandrains are preparing the final stage of a full scale Earth invasion. Having the experience the their First Invasion, we should be able`

`to make defenses in time and wipe out their ships.`

`This time, their strategy has changed. As suggested by the Xalithars, they will be focusing on larger fleets, space mines (which can disturb tech) and sneak attacks conducted by swarm fleets. Also, they should've fixed the laser cannon so they have a high chance to use in battle.`

`Although the Xalithars will also be providing backup, dont rely on them too much. United agencies are needed in order to protect our homeland.`

- Global Defense Organization

Right after the transmission has been broadcasted, agencies begin to launch and develop more defenses in order to block their attacks of their second invasion:

▪︎Echelon Aerospace has launched 21 more gen 2 reaper shuttles in space as a defense and attack strategy, while reactivating the Planetary Defense Department and partnering with the US military again to combat Xandrian forces. They will be utilizing the newly invented teleporters and the Invictus Warship, which hasn't been used during the First Invasion at all, will have its systems checked by a robotic probe. It still contains full supplies, ammo and power. Moreover, they have thought of an ingenious way to cancel out the EMP waves of the space mines via a counter wave emitted by reaper shuttles, which will use destructive interference to effectively neutralise the EMP waves.

▪︎ASync IR has partnered with GDO to develop a space fighter jet named SpaceJets, with the best variation being the SpaceJet Beta II. With pinpoint accuracy needed, the jets have specialized bullets which can rip off metal covers and plates. They also have a hidden EMP cannon. However, later during fight, it is discovered that they have a deadly problem which causes its maneuverability to decrease significantly.

▪︎Bremen Rocket Agency's Early Warning Detectors can be connected to the data files and operation systems of GDO, but some of them are not quite functional.

▪︎As Richardson Aerospace's super laser hasn't been quite functional and agency's status is currently unknown, GDO takes over the control of the weapon and gives it to Echelon Aerospace as a shield for Invictus.

GDO had utilized all its efforts, but still, there was no response from Xalithars or their leader. Officials began to worry that are Xalithars really trying to protect humanity, or is Xalithars actually a traitor.

## Ambush on the Moon

Shortly after Xandrian fleets entered Earth's SOI, the SpaceJet pilots started to discuss the strategy to distract them while Echelon Aerospace sets all planetary defenses to high alert. The swarm fleets were not spotted.

All live feed and information about the space mines and hostile assets were transmitted to the Cygnus V2 capsule as a crewed launch was happening at the same time. If evacuation is needed, 2 gen 2 reaper shuttles will be available for escort. If escort was confirmed, there will be 16 shuttles on Earth and 4 shuttles on Moon and Captured Asteroid.

Meanwhile, back on Earth, the US military prepared for counter-wave and deployed troops around continental US for homeland protection. At the exact same time, ASync IR started to contact GDO to inform them about a malfunction of the SpaceJets, causing its maneuverability to decrease significantly, and GDO informs the pilots about the matter afterwards. Thus, the jet couldn't perform sharp twist and turns and the pilots were forced to scrap the old plan.

Back in space, the Xandrian's 5 flagships and fighter jets passed the orbit of the Captured Asteroid while the swarm fleets suddenly appeared at LMO. The reaper shuttle at the CA took off and started to hunt down the fleets while the CA base starts to evacuate the colonists back to Earth via a teleporter. The mining rig was shut down to prevent it from attracting fleets to the undefended base. Two reaper shuttles at the Moon regrouped and checked all systems to prepare for the incoming swarms.

The superlaser at ECHO was operational again before Echelon sent 20 laser specialists and astronauts onboard with the teleporter. Meanwhile, Xandrian fighter jets fired missiles to the satellites in HEO and LEO, disrupting the communications. Echelon programmed all satellites to scoot aside with RCS, minimizing the damage before reestablishing communications with massive help of the government and covering up the outage by claiming it as an accidental activation of an EMP weapon. Afterwards, Echelon sent counter-wave to all planetary defenses assets while GDO detected space mines near moon orbit. However, the EWD couldn't be contacted, most likely being destroyed during the attack. The SpaceJets started to distract the fighters and the frontiers although the maneuverability is low, chipping some of the unexpected spacecrafts.

## Awakening and Transfer

As the fleets pass Moon's orbit, Invictus was awakened. SpaceJets now target the flagships instead of distracting the fighter jets. Draining the flagship's shield array wasn't a good idea as it took a long time and increases the vulnerability and risk of being targeted. With one SpaceJet failing to do so, it activated its EMP cannon, exploding some space mines, destroying a bunch of fleets and disrupting a flagship's shield. Echelon immediately sent reaper shuttles to destroy it, blowing a hole in its pressurized regions and fuel sections. At the same moment, GDO successfully developed the Early Warning Program for tracking enemy fleets or hazardous objects, which became a useful asset in future events.

With one flagship entering Moon's SOI, the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) turned around and used its high resolution camera, originally intended to image the Moon to image the flagship instead. As the colonists now know how it looks like, they prepared the wheel bombs. The SpaceJets continued to utilize the space mines to expose a flagship, after that destroying it with a wheel bomb. Meanwhile, the laser specialists got the super laser on ECHO working properly.

As Richardson Aerospace couldn't be contacted, GDO took over their super laser since it is old and it's reloading time is much longer to be feasible. Considering it can be used as a shield, Invictus started to move towards the weapon.

With only 3 flagships left, the reaper shuttles continued to fire holes in the flagship, attempting to take them out. Echelon started to send some soldiers with space suits from the US military to the Moon and CA via teleporters for setting up basic defenses and secure these two celestial bodies safe.

A SpaceJet managed to ram into a flagship's weak spot - the bottom. Echelon took note of this and start instructing reaper shuttles to target the bottom instead. Swarm fleets and the space mines began to move towards HEO as CA had been fully fortified by "space soldiers" and a reaper shuttle.

Shortly after, right before the Xandrian's flagships arrived HEO and focused their weaponary to Earth, Invictus successfully docked with RA's super laser. GDO then disabled the override permissions and transferred them to EA. The super laser was now officially connected to Invictus and is now in EA's control ever since.

## Backup

The reaper shuttles continued to fire at the remaining two flagships and aimed the wheel bombs at the bottom. Echelon sent 8 shuttles to deal with each flagship, hoping to drain their shield array and damage some of its components.

As expected, the two flagships began charging up their laser cannons as the shuttles prepare to dodge. Out of the blue, one flagship stopped charging and suddenly turned around, its other cannons trying to aim a warship behind it. As the flagship began to recharge its cannon, the entire spacecraft exploded, blowing into tiny pieces along with a SpaceJet that went too close.

Officials began to cheer for the Xalithars unexpected arrival while the Kronos Fighter shot cluster missiles at the last flagship, followed by an EMP pulse, disabling its shield array. The shuttles took the chance to box the flagship in, making it unable to escape. Invictus dealt the final blow with RA laser.

The theme of the Xalithars played through the transmission systems, with one Xalithar stating that the war has ended. Due to the immense volume, the US military turned off all transmissions from Echelon Aerospace planetary defense assets. Although some are displeased as they need it for transmissions, others are happy that the sound stopped.

`There won't be any invasions soon, so lets just enjoy the remaining year yay.`

`*(All this running around, well its getting me down*`

`*Just give me a pain that I'm used to*`

`*I don't need to believe all the dreams you conceive*`

`*You just need to achieve something that rings true*`

`*There's a hole in your soul like an animal*`

`*With no conscience, repentance, oh no*`

`*Close your eyes, pay the price for your paradise*`

`*Devils feed on the seeds of the soul)*`

## Aftermath

After the Comeback, the Xandrian's fleets were fully defeated and destroyed. Although they pose no threat to humanity, the US government mandated Echelon Aerospace to wipe out all the aliens on Mars, leading to the sub-event "The Extinction" in To the Sun.

Invictus goes back to hibernation while the probe attached to it (which is named Invictus Repair and Maintenance Probe afterwards) fixes the old and outdated systems of RA's super laser and welded the weapon to Invictus permanently.

The Comeback is an important factor leading to the end of the X Empire, further revealing the history of the Xandrians and the Xalithars, along with a new alien species.

## Trivia

▪︎The Comeback is the first event to have 0 agencies destroyed and the only one by far.

▪︎It is also the last event to have no difficulty rank as the Event Modes and Rewards Update is released some time after the event.

▪︎This is the first time seeing Invictus activate in the middle of the war.

▪︎It is also the first time seeing ASync IR participating in the defenses of Earth.