History Fanfic / Ferris

*** Another character takes out the last enemy, and [[BlackComedy jokes]] [[spoiler:"[[VideoGame/CounterStrike Terrorists win.]]" It's doubled-up if the reader realizes ''the whole chapter'' is about a team of "terrorists" in civvies and disguises fighting through uniformed "counter-terrorists" to plant a bomb.]]

** The mayor of Vancouver is one Pierre "Pepe" Tucker, a reference to popular [[Fanfic/{{Renegade}} and]] [[Fanfic/TiberiumWars prolific]] [[Fanfic/{{Forward}} Spacebattles]] [[Fanfic/{{Harbinger}} writer]] [[Fanfic/NoGodsOnlyGuns Peptuck]]. The writer said in the spirit of the MCU's Stan Lee cameos, he would be played by Creator/SidMeier. It's not clear whether he knew Meier ''is'' actually Canadian.

* NamesTheSame: Upon meeting a rookie with the same first name as his, Pena thinks "[[Creator/EmilyDickinson there's a pair of us]], [[LampshadeHanging don't tell]]!"

* FateWorseThanDeath: In the climax, [[spoiler:we learn the Uber-Ethereal bodyjacked Kirsten Arnadottir and made her into the Avatar. The Ethereal claims Kirsten is still in there. Screaming. Also, Loki captures one of the Sentinel cyborgs, and he says he didn't kill her just so he could give her to ''Vahlen'', as revenge for injuring his old student Kelda.]]

** Due to giving Thor additional weapons before he returns to Asgard, including ICER weapons, Thor is able to capture Loki, the Rainbow Bridge remains intact, and Asgard is setting up relations with Earth. What this means for how badly this throws the MCU off the rails remains to be seen.

* SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome: In Chapter 3, [[spoiler:Eamon is surprised to find that XCOM starts with six-man squads, not four like in the game. [[ThisIsReality His internal chiding asks him whether he thought they would move on a grid]].]]
** XCOM also has multiple Skyrangers, much like in ''Fanfic/{{Stardust|Arad}}'', instead of limiting themselves to a single vulnerable craft.
** HYDRA simply tries attacking XCOM's satellite on the launchpad.

* BrickJoke: [[spoiler:One of the first things we learn is how Reed Richards was the first choice for XCOM's Chief Engineer. The final scene is Commander Hill meeting the [[Comicbook/FantasticFour Fantastic Fo]]- the Future Foundation as they return to Earth. Reed wants to know what he missed.]]

* IdiosyncraticEpisodeNaming: For the first two arcs, most of the chapter titles are quotes of some kind, usually from music. For the third arc, most of the chapter titles are single words starting with A. Except for [[spoiler:the April Fools chapter, which suddenly turns into a {{Batman}}[=/XCOM=] crossover called "Blitz",]] and [[spoiler:the climax, which 'counts down' through single words starting with F, E, D, etc. until it reaches the last chapter; '''Avengers'''. The epilogue is a song lyric...that starts with A.]]

** XCOM also has multiple Skyrangers, much like in ''FanFic/{{Stardust|Arad}}'', instead of limiting themselves to a single vulnerable craft.

** XCOM has multiple Skyrangers, like in ''Fanfic/AradsStardust'', as well as taking (David) Bradford and (Moira) Vahlen's first names from them, as per WordOfGod.

** XCOM also has multiple Skyrangers, much like in ''FanFic/AradsStardust'', instead of limiting themselves to a single vulnerable craft.

* NotSoDifferent: In Arc 3, [[spoiler:XCOM ends up using basically the same terrorist tactics as HYDRA did at the start of the fic. In Chapter 32, Miss Smith points this out to Captain America, to the latter's discomfort.]]

** Jane Porter has a cousin named Ruth, who had to take a trip to Israel. Assuming Porter is as Israeli as Natalie Portman is, Ruth is probably this universe's version of the Israeli hero Sabra.

[[http://forums.spacebattles.com/threads/xcom-iron-man-ferris.281782/ Ferris]] [[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10005292/1/ is]] an ''VideoGame/XCOMEnemyUnknown''[=/=]Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse[[labelnote:*]]For starters, before eventually incorporating the X-Men and the Fantastic Four into the story.[[/labelnote]] crossover fanfic by u63r. Later portions of the fic added elements from ''VideoGame/XCOM2''.

* SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome" In Chapter 3, [[spoiler:Eamon is surprised to find that XCOM starts with six-man squads, not four like in the game. [[ThisIsReality His internal chiding asks him whether he thought they would move on a grid]].]]

* RealityEnsues : In Chapter 3, [[spoiler:Eamon is surprised to find that XCOM starts with six-man squads, not four like in the game. [[ThisIsReality His internal chiding asks him whether he thought they would move on a grid]].]]
** XCOM also has multiple Skyrangers, much like in ''FanFic/AradsStardust'', instead of limiting themselves to a single vulnerable craft.
** HYDRA simply tries attacking XCOM's satellite on the launchpad.

* ShipperOnDeck: The staff seem very supportive of Irene/Laura, as well as Bradford/Director Schmidt, despite the latter being technically against regs.

[[http://forums.spacebattles.com/threads/xcom-iron-man-ferris.281782/ Ferris]] [[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10005292/1/ is]] an ''VideoGame/XCOMEnemyUnknown''[=/=]Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse[[labelnote:*]]For starters before eventually incorporating the X-Men and the Fantastic Four into the story.[[/labelnote]] crossover fanfic by u63r. Later portions of the fic added elements from ''VideoGame/XCOM2''.

[[http://forums.spacebattles.com/threads/xcom-iron-man-ferris.281782/ Ferris]] [[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10005292/1/ is]] an ''VideoGame/XCOMEnemyUnknown''[=/=]''Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse''[[labelnote:*]]For starters.[[/labelnote]] crossover fanfic by u63r. Later portions of the fic added elements from ''VideoGame/XCOM2''.

* FusionFic: Fusing the worlds of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and X-COM: Enemy Unknown. And later ''VideoGame/XCOM2''.

* InfantImmortality: Averted. The first chapter ends with Eamon and the readers learning that HYDRA killed a kid, and in the Moscow Terror Mission, [[spoiler:an entire school is attacked and implanted by Chryssalids.]]

** In chapter 5, they encounter a private security operative (you know, a mercenary) named Wilson who is very good with weapons and constantly makes goofy remarks. It's not a particularly subtle SelfDemonstrating/{{Deadpool}} reference.

[[http://forums.spacebattles.com/threads/xcom-iron-man-ferris.281782/ Ferris]] [[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10005292/1/ is]] an ''VideoGame/XCOMEnemyUnknown''[=/=]''Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse''[[labelnote:*]]For starters.[[/labelnote]] crossover fanfic by u63r.

* FusionFic: Fusing the worlds of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and X-COM: Enemy Unknown.

* FateWorseThanDeath: In the climax, [[spoiler:we learn the Uber-Ethereal bodyjacked Kirsten Arnadottir and made her into the Avatar. The Ethereal claims Kirsten is still in there. Screaming. Also, Loki captures one of the Sentinel cyborgs, and he says he didn't kill her just so he could give her to ''Vahlen''.]]

** XCOM also has multiple Skyrangers, much like in ''FanFic/AradsStardust'', instead of limiting themselves to a single, bulnerable craft.

* {{Retirony}}: In Arc 3, Schmidt notes that [[spoiler:she wants to spend more time with her kids when the mission is done. Clearly she's going to get killed during the final mission. Nope, that goes to Tony, who made the mistake of saying he had Girl Back Home (Pepper). Note that he wasn't the only one thinking about the subject, so it was a misdirect.]]
* RousingSpeech: Tony tries one, gets sidetracked, and admits that he's just not that good at speeches.
* RuleOfFun: The author's notes for the Moscow Terror Mission say the scenario in the fic would be nearly unplayable, and not much fun. He also points out that the game's version - saving a few dozen people in attacks that kill thousands - isn't really that notable.

** The mayor of Vancouver is one Pierre "Pepe" Tucker, a reference to popular [[Fanfic/{{Renegade}} and]] [[Fanfic/TiberiumWars prolific]] [[Fanfic/{{Forward}} Spacebattles]] [[Fanfic/{{Harbinger}} writer]] [[Fanfic/NoGodsOnlyGuns Peptuck]]. It is further noted that in the spirit of the MCU's Stan Lee cameos, he would be played by Creator/SidMeier. It's not clear whether he knew Meier ''is'' actually Canadian.

** Chapter 3 has a marksman, AKA a sniper, by the name of Mundy. Mundy is the name of the Sniper from ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2''. It also turns out that Sergeant Dunayevsky has a doctorate in Russian Literature. Again, WordOfGod confirms that he's the Heavy.

* ShownTheirWork: Like ''Fanfic/WithThisRing'' does with Young Justice and DC comics, this story heavily references obscure bits of the MCU and Marvel comics in general. For example, minor Iron Man villain Bruno Horgan[[note]]who appeared in the non-canon Iron Man video game, working for AIM, as well as a tie-in comic[[/note]] works for SHIELD instead of going after Tony, and the X-Ray eye from ''Series/AgentsOfShield'' is foreshadowed during the French convoy attack, then shows up properly in Arc 3. [[spoiler:And at Tony's funeral.]]
** The series also tends to use GratuitousForeignLanguage, and appropriate idioms. Such as when a Japanese character describes herself as a [[https://www.tofugu.com/japan/conformity-in-japan/ "sticking up nail".]] Later on, a nickel drops instead of [[https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/280900.html a penny]] for a Canadian character, because Canada discontinued pennies a while ago[[note]]Arguably an example of taking this a bit too far. Just because part of an idiom is outdated, doesn't mean it's going to suddenly change. People are still said to be "worth their salt", they can still "fall off the wagon", and a Spanish equivalent to "the coast is clear" is "there are no Moors on the coast", even though it's been well over a hundred years since the last time Moors raided Spain. It's not clear if it's supposed to be the character's thoughts, or a narration in-joke.[[/note]].

* Idiosyncratic Episode Naming: For the first two arcs, most of the chapter titles are quotes of some kind, usually from music. For the third arc, most of the chapter titles are single words starting with A. Except for [[spoiler:the April Fools chapter, which suddenly turns into a {{Batman}}[=/XCOM=] crossover called "Blitz",]] and [[spoiler:the climax, which 'counts down' through single words starting with F, E, D, etc. until it reaches the last chapter; '''Avengers'''. The epilogue is a song lyric...that starts with A.]]

* ShutUpElves: In chapter 20, [[spoiler:a group of Asgardians, superhuman beings who are nigh-immortal, practically immune to bullets, and practically view themselves as gods, joke to one another how weak these aliens are (and how the PunyHumans must be overestimating their threat)... right before their leader ''literally'' walks into a Muton and gets most of his torso obliterated. One of the other team members manages to kill the muton, but the group is now panicked and later seem traumatized.]]

* BittersweetEnding: [[spoiler:XCOM manages to save the day, but SHIELD is in shambles, there's a bunch of uncontrolled super-tech floating around out there, and Tony died. Also, Moscow is uninhabitable for the forseeable future. Did we mention the many world leaders who either willingly worked with the X-Rays or were mind-controlled?]]

* LampshadeHanging: At one point, the concept of bipedal robots is taken down, pointing out that while intimidating, it's usually better to have them with wheels or treads.

* RuleOfFun: The author's notes for the Moscow Terror Mission note that the scenario in the fic would be nearly unplayable, and not much fun. He also points out that saving a few dozen people in attacks that kill thousands isn't really that notable.

** Chapter 28: Much of the chapter takes place in a 'data vault' run by the Epiphyte Corporation from ''Literature/Cryptonomicon''. [[spoiler:Okoye sits at Randy's desk, eats his Cap'n Crunch, and looks at the picture on his desk. Apparently Randy and Amy had a kid.]]

** The series also tends to use GratuitousForeignLanguage, and appropriate idioms. Such as when a Japanese character describes herself as a [[https://www.tofugu.com/japan/conformity-in-japan/ "sticking up nail".]] Later on, a nickel drops instead of [[https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/280900.html a penny]] for a Canadian character, because Canada discontinued pennies a while ago[[note]]Arguably an example of taking this a bit too far. Just because part of an idiom is outdated, doesn't mean it's going to suddenly change. People are still said to be "worth their salt", they can still "fall off the wagon", and a Spanish equivalent to "the coast is clear" is "there are no Moors on the coast", even though it's been well over a hundred years since the last time Moors raided Spain[[/note]].

* TemptingFate: In Chapter 20, [[spoiler:a newbie Asgardian team of mages is sent to assist XCOM. To keep up morale, the leader quips about how the aliens really aren't that dangerous. Then he's nearly killed when he walks into a Muton, loses an arm at least, and is incapacitated for the duration of the chapter.]]

** Instead of Doctor Yinsin, it was Doctor Shen who helped Tony build the first suit of Iron Man armor.

* CentralTheme: Secrets and lies. Seems like nearly every main character has one.

* MythologyGag: Doctor Vahlen, [[spoiler:aka Jean Grey, is from ''[[ComicBook/TheDarkPhoenixSaga Phoenix]]'', Arizona.]]

* TemptingFate: In Chapter 20, [[spoiler:a newbie Asgardian team of mages is sent to assist XCOM. To keep up morale, the leader quips about how the aliens really aren't that dangerous. Then he's nearly killed when he walks into a Muton, loses an arm at least, and is incapacitated for the duration of the chapter.]]

** The series also tends to use GratuitousForeignLanguage, and appropriate idioms. Such as when a Japanese character describes herself as a [[https://www.tofugu.com/japan/conformity-in-japan/ "sticking up nail".]] Later on, a nickel drops instead of [[https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/280900.html a penny]] for a Canadian character, because Canada discontinued pennies a while ago.

* NotSoDifferent: In Arc 3, [[spoiler:XCOM ends up using basically the same terrorist tactics as HYDRA did at the start of the fic. In Chapter 32, Miss Smith points this out to Captain America, discomfiting her.]]

** XCOM also has multiple Skyrangers, much like in ''FanFic/AradsStardust''.
** HYDRA tries attacking XCOM's satellite on the launchpad.

** Chapter 28: Much of the game takes place in a 'data vault' run by the Epiphyte Corporation from ''Literature/Cryptonomicon''. [[spoiler:Okoye sits at Randy's desk, eats his Cap'n Crunch, and looks at the picture on his desk. Apparently Randy and Amy had a kid.]]

--''"I want my life back!"''
* ShownTheirWork: Like ''Fanfic/WithThisRing'' does with Young Justice and DC comics, this story heavily references obscure bits of the MCU and Marvel comics in general. For example, minor Iron Man villain Bruno Horgan[[note]]who appeared in the non-canon Iron Man video game, working for AIM, as well as a tie-in comic[[/note]] works for SHIELD instead of going after Tony, and the X-Ray eye from ''Series/AgentsOfShield'' is foreshadowed during the French convoy attack, then shows up properly in Arc 3.

** XCOM also has multiple Skyrangers, much like in ''AradsStardust''.

* ReligiousAndMythologicalThemeNaming: Most of the equipment is named after Greco-Roman figures. This is revealed to be because [[spoiler:Director Schmidt has a mythology degree.]]

* ImprobableAimingSkills: The main feature of the alien Infiltrators, which are this fic's Thin Men. And that's before one gets [[spoiler:plasma sniper rifles.]]

** Arc 3 makes occasional references to "Moscow" and some kind of disaster. [[spoiler:We finally find out what happened in Chapter 33.]]

* ShutUpElves: In chapter 20, [[spoiler:a group of Asgardians, superhuman beings who are nigh-immortal, practically immune to bullets, and practically view themselves as gods, joke to one another how weak these aliens are (and how the PunyHumans must be overestimating their threat)... right before their leader ''literally'' walks into a Muton and gets most of his torso obliterated. One of the other team members manages to kill the muton, but the group is now panicked.]]

* GratuitousForeignLanguage: XCOM and SHIELD troops tend to insert random words from their native language, [[ShowTheirWork especially under stress]].