You can never lose your best agent when hes not used!

Oops.. NOT SOUNDING BITTER!

:)

RendeRII looks at SachmoII across the skyranger. Then looks at his helmet, the ablative armor on the one side melted to almost nothing. His knee still ached from the shot that caught the hinge of his Power suit. If it weren't for this equipment he'd be in one of those body bags.

He looked at SachmoII again..."Hey. We all make mistakes. My Dad taught me that. My dad was a vindictive bastard too though and never let you forget yer mistakes. " He took a deep breath, "I guess what I want to say is let it go. Greive, but don't let their deaths get you, or one of us killed too."

RenderII paused for a moment...Whhat would dad do.? He looked at the exhausted faces of the troops. We did so much good today. But this one thing has them hangin their heads....So get up boy...thats what dad would say.

RendeRII got up and walked over to SachmoII, layed a hand on his shoulder. We're still here, and we won't let ANY of our comrades deaths be in vain. We will beat these bastards, even if it takes forever. We're not gonna let them beat us. ok? Hang tough man."

He went around the Skyranger bay and talked to every member of the team in turn. We did good today, he wanted them to remember THAT , we hurt them today and we'll keep on hurting them.

When he sat back down he looked at his helmet again, "Thanks for protecting me Dad...."

Agent Call-up

Ring ring ring...

Calling The Afoci and Havok...

Ring ring ring...

Your planet needs you...

and your Laser-Clawed Crawfish...

Ring ring ring...

Ouch, losing RavenHawk is tough. I guess that he forgot to take his stimulants...errr...eat his Wheaties today...

Hopefully someone else will work hard and become the hero that RH was...

Ouch. We lost some nice vets, but the experience we got exceed what we lost. Altogether, a nice job by Godzilla in making it through that torrent of missions.

Alhill III looks like a good prospects. High bravery is key. Send me in and let me avenge the deaths of my comrades!

Why do I get the feeling that "a higher power" set me up as the goat? :D

The_Afoci is reporting to duty with a pocket full of Crawfish with Laser Blasters instead of Claws!

Aw Ravenhawk's not dead, Crappie can just thaw his clone out of the freezer, stick it in the microwave...2 minutes...*ding*...ready for action!!!

cschex: Welcome! I'll add your name!

Render: I thought you were a goner. Two hits, only minor damage.

Al: It does look like you've got some potential there. By the way, you're being transferred to EU COM. Data King III as well.

Sachmo II: I just report it like I see it. ;)

Qwikshot: I wish it were so, but Ravenhawk is really toast.

The Afoci: Got it!

DVH: Your turn is coming soon. Very soon. Be ready.

I wonder what would happen if we sent DVH and The Afoci on a mission together?

_______

Not much to happen for the next couple of days. I've got my thesis defense tomorrow, and a long day of meetings on Wednesday. Next update on Thursday, and probably a mission up on Friday, if all goes well.

Ready and willing, SIR!

Aren't they the same person? I'm never seen them on the board at the same time.

Sign Condors II up! If at first you don't succeed fail and fail again

Blade6119 volunteers to fill that void:D ...im not afraid of dying...its happened a lot to me...

That sucks:(

Tough end to a great day...

*mourning RavenHawk*

I was proud to serve with him on two missions, if only I had managed to nail those Sectoids faster... *sobs*

Skyranger transmission: This is Commander Kodos, wishing to speak to Sergeant Chief Rum, Squaddie Sachmo II, and Squaddie Zippy.

All Three: Yes Sir! (they try to hide their fatigue from the video transmission, Sachmo blinking away the tears).

Cmdr. Kodos: Congratulations, men. I know it was hard to go through that last mission. Captain Raven Hawk and Squaddie Condors II will be missed.

All Three: Yes sir.

Cmdr. Kodos: While all due gravity is being expended to the situation of this past mission, I felt it was right to commend the three of you today for participating in an incredible three missions. As you all know, you have all three been on all of the EU base's missions today, and you all performed in fine fashion--yes, and you, too, Squaddie Sachmo. You killed three of the enemy in the first mission, and you have been invaluable to us. Those Sectoids set us up for an ambush and if it's anyone's fault, it is mine for not anticipating their craftiness and instructing Capt. Raven Hawk to be aware.

Squaddie Sachmo nods wearily: Thank you sir (followed closely by the other two).

Cmdr. Kodos: I want you all to get a lot of rest. We need men like you to stay alive now, especially with the losses we have suffered in recent days. I will highly recommend to Commander-in-Chief Godzilla Blitz to rest you for at least one mission, although you should always be prepared.

All Three: Of course, sir! And we will always be ready!

Cmdr. Kodos: I know. Squaddie Sachmo, Squaddie Zippy, you are dismissed. (The two snap salutes and leave the video transmission area). Sergeant Rum?

Sgt. Rum: Yes sir!

Cmdr. Kodos: Fine job killing Sectoids, Chief Rum. You killed one on every mission today. Your consistency is a leading mark among our soldiers.

Sgt. Rum: Thank you, sir.

Cmdr. Kodos: For that reason, though, it pains me to say what I must next. We have decided to give Raven Hawk's captaincy to Sergeant AStott. You, the former Sgt. AStott, and Sgt. The Time are all excellent young commanders, but we felt that the position suited AStott the best at the moment.

Sgt. Rum: I trust your judgement, sir, and I think AStott is an excellent choice.

Cmdr. Kodos: You'll get your chance. You were just promoted to Sergeant last week, after all. Now, rest easy, son. You have had a hard day.

Sgt. Rum: Yes sir! (Cmdr. Kodos reaches forward to shut off the transmission, before the sergeant stops him). ...Uhh...sir?

Cmdr. Kodos (looking back up at the screen): Yes, sergeant?

Sgt. Rum: If I were a captain, I wouldn't be the first one out the door anymore, would I, sir?

Cmdr. Kodos: First one out in the missions? No, sergeant, you would not.

Sgt. Rum: That's what I thought. Sir, promotions suit some men, but I only want to be that first guy, the one that takes the opening fire for the men behind me, the one who clears the way. Being just a sergeant suits me just fine.

Cmdr. Kodos (his one big eye glinting deviously as barely visible smile lines appear in the corners): Yes, sergeant, I kinda thought you would feel that way. You're dismissed, Sgt.

Sgt. Rum (snapping a smart salute): Yes sir!

End Transmission

CR

Cpt. Ravenhawk lay immobile on the ground, realing from a shot to the chest and to the face. He felt blood pouring down his cheek from the eye wound that he had received. Could this be the end of his days? Nah, it is just a flesh wound, he'd be ok. He reached for the stimulant injector button on his suit and pressed it. Nope. That's not going to do it. I still can't get up. He huffed, short of breath.

"Cpt. Raven Hawk down. Need blaster support near hedge wall. Repeat blaster support near hedgewall."

**KABLAM**

**THUD**

Raven Hawk looked out of his one good eye and saw Condor hit the turf beside him.

"OH NO YOU DON'T YOU SECTOID BASTARDS! YOU DO NOT MESS WITH MY UNIT!"

With that, Raven Hawk mustered everything he had left and rose to one knee. He took aim with his plasma launcher, looking through his one good eye.

**KABLAM**

**THUD** **THUD**

Raven Hawk's body hit the turf, and moments later his head hit the turf. Blood, Adrenaline, and Stimulants poured out of his body onto the grass, only 20 miles from EU COM.

We definately should have a Ravenhawk award..

Kodos switched off the transmission and sighed, still not able to fully grasp that condors and Raven Hawk were really gone. The loss of Raven Hawk was particularly upsetting because of the uncommon valor that he had shown time and again in battle...

All things considered, the day had gone far better than he could have hoped at the outset, especially in light of the fact that he had fully expected to be dead by nightfall (along with everyone else at EU com) when it seemed like a base attack was imminent. The way the men had rallied and had repeatedly dealt the aliens decisive defeats during the day had filled his heart with pride and hope. Now all he could think of was the fact that two of his finest men had gone down in what was to have been the capper on X-Com's finest day. Bitterly, he thought back to a M*A*S*H episode he had seen long ago, when Henry Blake had told Hawkeye about the rules of war:

Rule Number 1: Young men die.
Rule Number 2: You can't change Rule Number 1.

Kodos got up from his chair, wincing as his bruised body protested the movement. "How the hell did I manage to fall out of that damn UFO twice?" he thought to himself ruefully, knowing all along that the biggest pain was in his heart.

"I will make these bastards will pay..." he swore, as he prepared for a video conference with his Commander-In-Chief, Godzilla Blitz. After that, maybe, this day would finally end.

We're SO not the same person.

Two geniuses like ourselves couldn't be the same person, we'd be ubersweet!

So put us together, we'll bring in ratings. We'll kill some Alien scum, and then he'll look at me, and go..

"BOOK 'EM DANNO!"

And we dance. Jig if you will.

We aren't the same person...damn, I will have to start think on my own again... either way, lets kick some ass together. I think that if we waltz, that would be cooler. A little gay, but cool anyway.

Hey! I do the jig dancing around here.

SI

And I am Jig-O-Rific!

I'll jiggify you all!

Gettin' jiggy wit' it

Quick X-Com question.

How do you reload the Blaster Launcher???

I fire it once, then try to reload it but it says its already loaded. But i cant fire it.

Wuz up wit dat?

Try asking sachmo. I hear he's really up on that. ;)

Chief Rum

Oh, that's cold, Rum. That's cold.

So are the corpses of Raven Hawk and condors.

too soon....kinda like making fun of mohammad ali's current condition....just too soon...wait about 3 days...3 days sounds right for when it will be funny..

Just like cancer will be funny in 21 years(anyone know where thats from?...free hat)

Kodos, how can dead people be funnier than an alien making fun of dead people? C'mon! You da FOF jester.

Just wait till the council of funding nations gets ahold of Kodos's comments. May as well go ahead and go to a frat party and drink up. Your pink slip will be coming shortly. :)

Somebody must have hacked into my account. I have no knowledge of those comments.

That one didn't work for my cousin either, Senor Alien.

(Yes, I am a distant relative to Nixon.)

I just caught up on everything.

Thanks for trying to kill me, Coffee. Next time you do that prepare to be Rochambeauxed.

Just trying to make sure you go down before me this time, Cam. :)

Don't ask, don't tell.

zilla...whats up?

Why do I have a feeling I just made QOTM for that litttle line.

Now that you mention it, that's not a bad idea.

Going to be a bit of a delay with the next update. Everything's fine, passed the oral exam and everything, but then Wednesday I got hit with some kind of bug (alien virus, post-stress syndrome?) that's wiped me out. My guess is it's just my body telling me that I need to catch up on sleep after three months of pushing myself to get the thesis done. I'm still functioning, etc., but it's taking all my energy to get my regular work done. Hoping to be up to full strength soon.

of course, right after I get called up, you go down with an illness. God just doesn't want me to kill/get killed by aliens. Its rather sad, really.

Congrats GB! On the exam and thesis that is, not the sickness that followed. ;)

It's a plot by the Sectoids!!!

The Aliens gave GB SARS..

I demand Skydog quarantine this thread.

just a quick note:

firstly: get well GB we LOVE this storyline you are one awesome dynasty man!


Secondly, I downloaded the windows updte version of this game and FINALLY got it to work, I suck terribly, but will learn the ropes, excellent game for as old as it is. Thank you all for introducing me to it!

RendeR, what version of Windows do you have?

I'm running XP home Edition Pro

I downloaded the winupdated version from their site, its a little fast, but I think if I use turbo or something like it I can slow it down a bit more.

cool:)

I might have to try that out

Sorry not a big update, but I wanted to keep people up to date. Finally, today I felt 100% up to speed. What ever that bug was, it slowed me down for about five days, which is probably more than I have been sick in the past three years total. Actually, after sleeping so much the past week, I feel the best I have in a long time, as most of the past three months have been spent in a sleep-deprived thesis-writing stupor, or mindlessly surfing the net to relieve stress. Even the recent X-COM missions were written in a fog. But that's all behind us now, and it's time to get back to killing Sectoids. Almost, that is...

Unfortunately, I fell behind at work over the past week, and need a couple of days to catch up. Next update should come later in the week, and I'm aiming for putting the next mission up on Friday. Also, I apolgize for not responding to recent comments and feedback. I've read everything, though, and I'll respond soon.

Thanks for the understanding!