The Smooth Operator achievement seems to be somewhat bugged. People have reported getting it randomly during a second playthrough or only being able to get it during a single play session from a new game. It may be possible that the flags are reset for some or all of the calls between play sessions. If possible, try to get all of the calls without leaving the game.

Thanks to HEX for pointing out the missing call in Battleship.


Throughout the stages of Mega Man X7, Alia will call to give support to your Hunters and tell you about the various enemies and hazards of stages, sometimes along with tips to get past them more easily. The transmissions are completely optional, but in order to get the Smooth Operator achievement, you must listen to all of the support call transmissions in the game.

Support calls are available based on the location your Hunter is standing. When you're standing in a spot where a support call is available, a sound will play and an icon will flash in the bottom-left corner of the screen. To listen to the call, press in the Right Analog Stick while the icon is displayed. The gameplay will freeze so you can read the transmission, and gameplay will resume once the transmission has ended.

The translation of the support calls is very bad, so don't pay too much attention to what they say. Often they are nonsense, confusing, or even misleading.

There are 7 "Support Calls" in the opening stage, and all seven are in the beginning segment with Axl before play changes over to Zero. These are actually not Alia's support calls, but are supposed to be Axl talking to himself. The translation is very poor so it doesn't sound like that, though.



1. At the very beginning of the stage. Don't move from the spot you start out on and answer the call.

"A security laser? No problem.
Attack when it locks on to the closest target and turns yellow.
When the laser is off you can get through.



2. After passing the first two security lasers, there is a stack of crates before two side-by-side security lasers. Stand behind the crates to answer the call.

"You must turn both security lasers off. You can switch the lock-on with RT."



3. Immediately after passing the two lasers side-by-side mentioned in Support Call #2, you will be next to a long row of stacked crates with a horizontal laser above them attached to the wall on your right that you went under. Answer the call here.

"You must hurry, so dash past the lasers while they're off.
Push directional pad twice,
or use B."



4. After passing the laser mentioned in Support Call #3, you will travel under another wall to be faced with a tall stack of crates where with three horizontal lasers past them that you must hover over. Stand atop the stack of crates and answer the call.

"Uh-oh. You'll have to take out the main security laser.
Use hover: Push and hold A."



5. After the security laser area, the first 3D area of the game will begin. Don't move from where you begin this area and you can answer the call safely without prompting the Runnerbomb ahead of Axl to attack.

"Is that a Runnerbomb?
Press Y and use A-Trans to steal its ability and render it harmless."



6. After the hallway with the Runnerbombs and stacked crates, Axl will navigate through a more narrow hallway with rotating security beam turrets. The end of the hallway has three next to each other. Immediately after getting past the three lasers, you can answer the call in the entryway to the spacious room at the end of the hallway.

"A Radardroyd!
Those creeps reflect my attacks."



7. After exiting the spacious room with the Radardroyds from Support Call #6, Axl arrives at the final room of the section which is guarded by a security door with four blue cores around its outside. You can answer the call at the front of this room near its entrance.

"The final security door.
To open it, you need to attack each core while it's red.
If you fail, it'll close."

There are 5 total Support Calls to answer in this stage. Three of them occur very early in the stage, the fourth is at the beginning of the second area, and the last is during the boss fight.



1. Do not move from the position at which you begin the stage and answer the call.

"This factory refines energy from lava.
Watch out! You'll melt if you touch that molten rock!"



2. Very shortly into the stage, you'll get another call from Alia right away as you approach a platform with two Mets and a time bomb.

"There's a time bomb next to the target!
You must complete the rescue before the bomb explodes!"



3. Very shortly after Support Call #2, you will encounter your first Flyer enemy of the stage. The exact location of the call can vary based on where the Flyer spawned and was killed, so just hop around this area until you find it, then answer the call.

"We have a reading for the DNA Core!
It's coming from that winged Reploid!"



4. As soon as you enter the teleporter hatch at the end of the first area, you'll be taken to a 3D area. Do not move from the start of this new area to answer the call.

"There should be a transporter that warps to the factory core.
Darn! The heat is blocking our search!"



5. As soon as the boss battle begins, Alia will call you. You can answer the call from anywhere on the large platform.

"There must be a weak point on that Mechaniloid...
Okay, it's his leg joins!
Hit them to slow him down!"

There are 3 Support Calls to answer in this stage.



1. At the very beginning of the stage, do not move and answer the call.

"Looks like an underground weapons factory.
Ride Armor is available in certain locations.
If you find Ride Armor, jump to get inside. Use LT to eject in emergencies!"



2. When you enter the second area with the green "energy" pools, don't move from your starting position to answer the call.

"We're picking up a strong energy source below you.
You don't want to fall down there without Ride Armor protection.
Be careful!"



3. In the fourth area where you must fight the Ride Armors to proceed, don't move from your starting location to answer the call.

"We're picking up lots of Ride Armor.
You'll just have to face them head-on!
There's no other way in!"

There are 4 total support calls to answer in this stage.



1. At the beginning of the stage, don't move from your starting position and answer the call.

"Be careful! We're getting strong energy readings! You're very close; you should be able to see it!
I'll look for the giant Mechaniloid's weak point! You find a good approach point!"



2. After finishing the first section, you will be taken to a round area to fight the mid-boss. Don't move from your starting position and answer the call. If you moved, you can walk back to the position at any time during the fight to make the call, so make sure not to defeat the boss before answering it.

"Analysis complete!
His head is his weak point!
Concentrate firepower there!"



3. After defeating the mid-boss, at the beginning of the second tower section, don't move from your starting position to answer the call.

"Head for the top of that tower!
We're getting an even stronger reading than the last one!"



4. Not long after the third call as you move up the upper tower area, before encountering your first Bounding enemy, Alia will call again.

"You'll need to use Bounding.
What a pain.
When he stops, his barrier blocks all attacks.
As soon as he moves, attack!"

There are 3 support calls available in this stage.



1. At the very beginning of the stage, don't move from the starting point and answer the call.

"The old battleship is their headquarters; looks like they move in a convoy."



2. When you reach the area with the platforms that raise and lower into ramps with Runnerbombs in the background, you can answer the call. Thanks to HEX for pointing out this one I missed.

"It's like carpet-bombing
- you can't dodge that!
If only you had the power of
a Runnerbomb..."



3. At the beginning of the second ship (after seeing the tower fall down -- the first ship with flames on it) don't move from your starting position and answer the call.

"The Runnerbombs are destroying the battleship?!
They intend to take you with them!!"

There are 2 Support Calls to answer in this stage.



1. At the beginning of the stage, don't move from your starting position and answer the call.

"We're getting a DNA Core reading.
It seems to be eminating from Ruinsman.



2. After coming down a hill, you'll find a long spike pit with pillars placed across it with Ape Stones between them. On the first pillar of this area, you can answer a Support Call.

"There are spikes just below you!
You'll take too much damage from them, unless you are Ruinsman."

There are only 2 Support Calls in this stage.



1. At the beginning of the stage, don't move from your starting position and answer the call.

"Do you copy? This is a dangerous mission. Walk along the jets to reach the mothership.
They'll have to ease up on attacks to avoid hitting their friends.
Don't worry, I know you can do it!"



2. When you reach the wing of the mothership after riding the third red jet, don't move from your starting position and answer the call.

"Let's see... a path into the heart of the mother ship... Got it!
Go through the shutters between the two cannons.
But first you'll have to beat the cannons and the gate keepers to break the lock."

There are 3 Support Calls to find in this stage.



1. When you first enter the stage, don't move from your initial position and answer the call.

"What a strange place...
Terrib...r transmissions,...oo...
Our data...n't tell us much...
You're on your own..."



2Just a few hexes walking around after Alia tells you you are on your own, she will call again with more information.

"We've...located the DNA Core energy...
Former generation...samurai...Axl...
Go through the wall..."



3. After taking the teleport hatch from the first area to the next, don't move from your original position and answer the call.

"...I've found...new info!
Looks like you've been transported to a zero-gravity...ronment...
The floating switches...can send
...to the rear area..."

There is only one call from Alia in this stage, and it is performed automatically upon starting the stage, so you can't miss it.

"Oh no!
A time-bomb has been set on the course!
You know how to use a Ride Chaser, right?
Use A to speed up,
and X to use the Buster.
There's no time! Hurry!"