Fuckin uhhhhhh, just use the idea I got autistically stuck in my head; mlp x-com. We can just do what they did for Terror from the Deep to get it ready in six months and just build off the vanilla game. We can add an actual Friendship stat and mechanic that makes your ponies get some bonuses if they're exhibiting team work on missions (throwing smoke to hide their allies, downing aliens/changelings/whatever enemy we decide on that hurt an ally).