X-COM II: The Earth's Revenge (Part VII)
 

Welcome to Part Seven of X-COM II: The Earth’s Revenge!

After another hiatis, the story moves forward once again, at what I hope is a steady one-mission-per-week pace...

Recap
The previous two threads have detailed recaps explaining some of the background of our adventure, as we haven't moved too far forward chronologically since then. Please see those thread to get a "large picture" overview of how our war stands.

To refresh our memories though...

When we last left our heroes, we were at the end of the hardest day of fighting to date in the eight-month long war: five missions in one day, most all of them against tough aliens in large UFOs. Although our first four missions were clear successes, our last mission, against a mere scout UFO in Italy, saw us lose two agents, one of whom was one of our top five agents, Ravenhawk. It is here where we'll pick up the story again...

By way of explanation
This "dynasty" is a participatory story using the Microprose game X-COM: UFO Defense. If you'd like to sign up, please just post here or in the sign-up thread and let me know. You don't need to know anything about the game, basically you just read along and post comments as you like, although at times there are decisions to be made where input is requested. In almost all of those cases, you don't need to know anything about the game to make an equally bad decision as I usually do.

Past Links
Our current game:
X-COM II (Part I)
X-COM II (Part II)
X-COM II (Part III)
X-COM II (Part IV)
X-COM II (Part V)
X-COM II (Part VI)

Our first game:
X-COM I (We all died in this one)

Here's where we left off...

X-COM II Troop Master List (After Mission 53)

USA COM

EU COM

ASIA COM

X-COM II Troop Attributes
SUPPORT PERSONNEL

Attribute Leaders (After Mission 53)

Attribute Doggies (After Mission 53)

Top Ten Kills Leaders
Waiting List

The Hall of Heroes and One Scumbag Traitor

Still dont know how Illinifan IV could be in the Hall of Heroes? He went to Notre Dame, always knew he was a bad seed, the ugly duckling, nasty apple! :mad:

Dola, I am also amused at how my family has had the most X-COM agents. ;) We tend to die quickly. Or go MIA/traitor like that bastard Illinifan IV! :mad: How I loathe him! :mad:

I'm just hoping to get some kills this time around. In the "lost missions" I did so much better :(

31 August

The month ends with a report that Crappy has unraveled the mysteries of UFO Navigation. This should take us one step closer to being able to produce ships that can take on the larger alien ships in the air.

The UN report comes in at month’s end, and brings mixed and confusing results (there may be a bug in here). Our score is off the board in the positive, and we receive an overall “excellent” commendation, but about ten countries are unhappy with our performance, and Germany has signed a secret pact with the aliens now too! England, Germany, and France have all gone over to the dark side! Europe is abandoning us! Yikes. I think that must mean that there is an alein base somewhere in Germany. Could be time for another base raid.

On Septemer 1, we call up agents to replace the fallen from August 30, and start building PSI-laboratories in Europe and Asia. They should be done before the end of the month, which means that we should be able to get a bunch of agents in PSI-training by the beginning of next month’s cycle. Not sure how all this works, but I think we’ll know the PSI-ratings of the troops in training by the end of October.

September 1

We start making transfers to get an even balance of troops at our three bases. Achilles heads to Asia from Europe. Data King III and Al Hill III head in the opposite direction. CTHomer heads for EU COM from the US. We order a new tank for EU COM.

September 2

Well, it looks like we're not going to have a long wait to get some action, as once again the European night comes alive with UFOs! Five UFOs, at least three of them large, start sweeping the European continent in the early morning hours.

Once again, we prepare the USA COM and ASIA COM Skyrangers for launches in the middle of the night to try and take out the large UFOs once they land. Once again, EU COM hunkers down, wondering if the UFOs scouring the continent are hunting for our base...

At daybreak, a mid-size scouting UFO touches down in the forests of Norway. We take a risk, and with four large UFOs buzzing Europe, send our EU Skyranger off to take them out. We’re leaving ourselves dangerously unguarded, but I want to hit these aliens hard today, and if possible, not let a single UFO get away without a fight.

The men on board: Chief Rum II, Klayman II, Render II, Kodos, 3ric III, Sachmo II, The Time, Rawisdan, Zippy, Astott.

Give ‘em hell men! I hope you’ve kept in shape during our break!

Coming this Sunday: Mission 54!

Fixed it! :)

But really, what ever could have happened to Illinifan IV?

For those of you that may have forgotten, Illinifan IV was repeatedly mind-controlled during a battle in the snowy tundras of Norway, and got dropped from X-COM voice and radar contact during the fight. Agents never found his body, but human footprints in the snow led from the battlefield towards an alien base a few miles away. He has never been heard from again, and remains to this day one of the great unsolved mysteries of X-COM.

Rewards have been offered for information leading to either his arrest or recovery, but as yet, nothing has turned up.

Rumors that he is a descendant of Osamu Bin Laden, Saddam Hussein, and/or Darth Vader are unconfirmed.

We must destroy the alien bastards - except for myself!

Yes! After a long slumber i shall lead my men to victory!!!

I can't wait to go from "In Transit" to "Active". That has got to be the longest airplane flight ever... :)

No kidding! It has been what, a 5 month flight? DAMN!!!:D

Woohoo! Back in action! Looking forward to kicking some alien, non-Kodos ass! :D

CR

Good luck guys!

Can't wait until I get back in the action too!

After watching the godawful but kindof fun "They Live" on AMC the other night, I'm ready to, uh, engineer stuff.

For those of you unfamilar with this move, it stars Roddie Piper (yes, that Rowdy Roddie Piper from WWF) as a construction worker named Nada who stumbles across a pair of sunglasses which let him see that the world as it really is: filled with aliens who look like they are wearing $1 rubber masks but who appear as normal people if you don't have these sunglasses.

Nada: "I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass. And I'm all out of bubblegum. " (which was later/earlier- I'm unsure which- used by Duke Nukem)

SI

Hey GB, thnx for fullfilling achilles and my reqest for the transfer. I didnt think you would remember. If im going to die(ive been alive way to mong for a blade, i might as well die with my friend).


Go get em Europe!!!!

Jeeber and Tucker: Yeah, that's been a loooong flight. Part of the reason is that we've been hammered with UFO attacks in the last few days of game time. I think you're scheduled to make it in within a few hours, but with four more UFOs buzzing Europe, there might still be quite a bit of fighting before you can in to the base. Sorry. I'll make a point to see where you guys are the next time I open the game (it tells you how many hours before you report).

Blade6119: No problem. I'm surprised I remembered too. Actually, I had made a note of it.

Sterling: That sounds like a winner of show!

Naiwf: At least you're still alive, though. It's getting rarer these days...

54th Mission: Norwegian Assault!

The EU COM Skyranger soars across the fjords of Norway, heading for an early autumn forest on the north side of the country. With our tank still in transport and the transfers still in transit, we only had ten men available in EU COM for this attack. The base is empty, a mighty risk should one of the UFOs searching the continent find and attack our base.

Kodos will lead the men in this mission. Sachmo II, whose blunder in forgetting to load the Blaster Launcher cost two men their lives in the last mission, has been given another chance with the same weapon. One can only wonder what thoughts run through his mind after his tragic error of the last mission.

Left Side:
1. Chief Rum II (Heavy Plasma, Power Suit)
2. Render II (Heavy Plasma, Power Suit)
3. 3ric III (Heavy Plasma, Power Suit)
4. The Time (Heavy Plasma, Power Suit)
5. Zippy (Heavy Plasma, Power Suit)

Right Side
1. Klayman II (Heavy Plasma, Power Suit)
2. Kodos (Heavy Plasma, Power Suit)
3. Sachmo II (Blaster Launcher, Power Suit)
4. Rawisdan (Heavy Plasma, Stun Launcher, Power Suit)
5. Astott (Heavy Plasma, Power Suit)

The Skyranger begins its descent to the woods below. We’re coming down a little to the southwest of the center of the battlefield. There is a small stretch of woods to the left of our exit and another at the nose of the Skyranger, but otherwise the majority of the battle should occur to the east and north of our ship. To the east—the right of our exit—there is a large wooded hill that starts about ten yards from our craft. Beside that, to the left as we look at it, we can just make out the edges of the cross-shaped UFO. Directly out from our exit is a small clearing, then a large, wooded hill starts up and off into the distance. To the left of this hill is a smaller wooded mound.

The Skyranger thumps down. The gate falls out. Silence. Klayman II hits the ramp, scans right and left, jumps off the Skyranger, and takes up a firing position at the landing gear. Render II follows, breaks left off the ramp, and sets up behind the ramp. Fortunately, the area at the nose of the Skyranger and the area to the left of our exit appear clear of aliens. That allows Klayman II and Render II to face the UFO and the woody hills on either side of it. The rest of the men get ready to disembark.

Suddenly, an alien appears on the right side of the hill that lies to the left of the UFO! It’s some kind of a new alien—a bulky green humanoid wearing a helmet of some sorts. Render II reacts instantly, and gets off a long shot that misses but drives the alien back into the woods.

3ric III comes running onto the ramp, jumps right, and spots another one of these green things through the trees that lie in front of the UFO. 3ric III drops to a knee and opens fire. Plasma slams into an intervening tree trunk, but one shot slips through and nails the alien in the groin. Purple goo comes spilling out of the creature, and it howls horribly as it drops to the ground. They bleed; they die. Nice shot, 3ric III! Before we can do anything else, two more green aliens come at us from the right side of the hill to the left of the UFO. One gets off a shot that spews up dirt at 3ric III’s feet. 3ric returns fire as the first alien turns to dart back behind cover, but 3ric’s shot catches him in the middle of the lower back, and blows a huge hole in the creature. It falls flat on its face, dead. The third alien opens fire at the men around the Skyranger, but his shot sails just wide of Render and cracks into a tree behind the Skyranger. This alien ducks back out of sight before we can line up any shots.

As Rawisdan exits the Skyranger and heads for the small hill to the left rear of the Skyranger, Render II tosses a grenade to the area that this most recent alien should be in. It goes off with a boom that echoes off through the woods, but out of the smoke the alien charges us again. 3ric III had his wheaties today, though: he gets off a quick shot that guts the creature for his third kill of the day! Wow! Go 3ric! X-COM 3, Aliens 0.

Things go quiet after that last attack, and we are able to deploy in force. Rawisdan and Render II head for the little hill to the left rear of our exit. Chief Rum II and Zippy head for the right side of the large hill to the left of the UFO, towards the two bodies of these new green aliens. Astott exits the Skyranger, joins Klayman II, and the two of them head down the small clearing to the right side of the UFO and to the left of the large hill that lies beside it. Kodos and The Time exit and head for the large hill that lies immediately to the right of the Skyranger exit. Sachmo II exits, turns left and set up a firing position with the Blaster Launcher in a nearby grove. 3ric III, with three kills already, trots back into the Skyranger as a reserve: best to spread out the kills if we can.

The next few minutes pass by without incident. Rawisdan and Render II clear the small hill, turn right, and start up over the larger hill that lies to the left of the UFO. Chief Rum II and Zippy make it to the left corner of the UFO, where Chief Rum II identifies this new alien as a “Muton” on his Universal MIB dictionary. Klayman II and Astott make a cautious advance to the right side of the UFO. The door on this craft should be on the east side, on the far side as we approach it. Nevertheless, we should see aliens coming around the corners at some point, as we have heard the whir of alien doors a few times in the past five minutes. Kodos and The Time clear the large hill that lies to the right of the UFO, and begin down the other side.

Having cleared the hills, we are now in a position to advance on the UFO door. Rawisdan, Render II, Chief Rum II, and Zippy (Squad One) can loop around the far side of the UFO. Klayman II, Astott, Kodos, and The Time can approach from the near side. To help clear the way, Klayman—one of our better arms—tosses a grenade up and over the UFO to land just away from the where the exit door should be. The grenade goes offwith a muffled thump, but there was no alien scream along with it. As Squad One closes on the door from the back side, and Squad Two closes on the door from the near side, Sachmo II gets into the action, sending two consecutive blaster missiles at the UFO. The first one loops up and over the craft, then makes a sharp angle for where the door should be. There is an awesome explosion: smoke and fire spew up into the sky, and dirt and grass are tossed in all directions. The Time and Kodos, from about 40 yards away from behind some fallen trees, have good enough angles now that they can partially see the exit, and they spot for Sachmo’s second missile, which passes through the now destroyed door and explodes with a dull boom inside the mid-size craft. Klayman II and Astott, both right beside the the UFO wall, see a soft plume of smoke coming from the roof the craft, and realize that Sachmo II’s shot has blown a hole in the roof. Klayman lobs a grenade into the hole. Another dull thud comes from inside the craft, but as yet, we hear no screams. Sachmo II fires a third missile into the UFO. This one buries itself deeper in the core of the craft, and is followed by both a roar and a scream! Sachmo II picked one off! Way to go! X-COM 4, Aliens 0.

Suddenly, Kodos and The Time spot a Muton near the exit! They raise their Heavy Plasmas to fire, but lose sight of the creature in some intervening foliage. Astott lobs a grenade over the UFO to land near the exit area. Zippy and Render II pick up the pace and close to within 15 feet of the final corner to the exit from the back side of the craft, with Chief Rum II and Rawisdan right on their heels. The grenade goes off with a crash, and then suddenly a Muton comes around the far corner, right in front of Zippy! Both man and alien bring their weapons to bear, but it is the alien that is a fraction of a second faster: Zippy is drilled with a stream of heavy plasma blasts from point blank range. His body disintegrates, sending an explosion of blood and gore in all directions, and covering Render II in red. The alien then twists his aim towards Render II, but Render gets a finger on his trigger as the alien turns and nails the creature full in the face with a plasma blast. The alien’s head explodes in a flash of purple, and it drops to the ground! X-COM 5, Aliens 1.

And that is it! That was the last alien.

A stunned Render II calls for a body bag, and begins to look through the purple and red gore near the corner of the UFO for any recognizable pieces of Zippy. After a few minutes, he’s got a small pile of parts: a severed hand, a leg from the knee down, some large chucks of bone. Kodos and The Time arrive to help, but when 3ric arrives a few minutes later with the body bag, the pile isn’t much bigger.

Wrap-up

Promotions: Render II, Sergeant.
Kills: 3ric III, 3; Sachmo II, 3; Render II, 1.
KIA: Zippy.
Wounded: None.
Attribute Improvements: Chief Rum II, The Time, Render II, Klayman II, Sachmo II.
Final score: 116!
Mission Notes:
Damn, I hate to lose men. Especially at the very end. Crap crap crap. Zippy was good, too.

Apparently Sachmo II’s blaster rocket hit the jackpot, as he picks up an official three kills. Nice payback for the last mission.

Go FOF X-COM!

Too bad about Zippy, but otherwise a fine mission. Good work, GB!

Hooray for the Blaster Launcher. I still blame "god" for the mystery of the unloaded blaster launcher. I guess that's part of the healing process, eh GB? :D

Render slumps into his seat in the 'ranger for the flight home...looks around him and says rather blandly, "someone ....get...me....a....TOWEL."

to bad about Zippy:(

A good job overall though:)

Wait a minute! Did I hear something about "more advanced ships"?? Specifically, "more advanced ships that will allow us fighter pilots to actually do something when an alien craft bigger than a VW bug comes into our area"? How intriguing.....

Toddiec

Great job again GB

OK, I think it is time I signed up.

Marmel

I need in on this, too.

How do we get Swaggs on board? :)

Wow, way to jump on the bandwagon guys

TV Commercial:
"Wheaties are good. Eat your wheaties, kids, and grow up to be a X-COM alien exterminator"

(fires blaster launcher into ufo)

"Eat Wheaties!"

Kodos, Fat: Thanks. Too bad Zippy got zapped, though.

Sachmo: Very clever. ;)

Toddiec: Yup, that's right. Bigger, more powerful, and faster ships for you to play with!

Marmel, Swaggs: Welcome aboard! I'll add your name to the list, although I must say XCOM is really scraping the bottom of the barrel when we start accepting Yankee fans (Marmel) into our ranks! ;)

3ric: Nice commercial! We should get sponsor patches like European soccer teams, too! I bet Volvo would like to put some decals on our tank. The INS (Immigration and Naturalization Service) would want something on Kodos, I'm sure. Just think of all the royalties; we'll be rich!

Hey, let's be fair here. Yankees fans can catch a plasma blast to the crotch just as well as the rest of us. :p

For some unknown reason, I never looked at the X-Com threads during my FOFC career. I thought - truth to God - that this was an FOF dynasty where the various teams were different plaents and societies and suc, and that the football team had to win or else earth would be destroyed. And that really wasn't my thing - more FOF dynasties and all.

So I clicked on it recently and umm....not FOF!

And I've spent the last 3 days reading the old threads including the first excursion. Amazing stuff and GB should be super proud.

I humbly ask to sign up for duty whenever you need me. I'll take whatever whenever, doesn't matter the bravery score, and I'll opt up if necessary!!!

GO X-COM


-Anxiety

Ah, It feels good to be back. This is quite possibly the best dynasty ever.

hurrah! the dynasty continues!!

Rumor has it they just love to be the first one to rush into the UFO.

:)

Anxiety: Glad you enjoyed it! I'll add your name to the list. Welcome aboard!

Airhog, Cam: Welcome back!

Quick update...

I should be setting the stage for the next mission tonight, and we're looking good for the next mission this Sunday.

You might be thinking of the short-lived .Up From The Ashes Village Challenge from the old board.

Good to know I wasn't making that stuff up! Thanks kindly.


-Anxiety

I still remember our two defensive backs...damn that woukld have been the best duo ever.

Just remember..

DannyVanHalen is the Bob Hope of XCom. Death is not an option.

Coffee Warlord Sr. said that too.

Right before he went out on his first mission.

Update
As the EU COM Skyranger lifts off and heads back towards its base, our USA and ASIA Skyrangers continue their flights toward the European continent. There are still numerous UFOs flitting around Europe on what looks to be another long day of fighting.

As the EU Skyranger touches safely down at base an hour later, the USA Skyranger gets the word: Large UFO has landed in Spain. Assault immediately!

With that, the USA Skyranger alters its flight path and heads for mainland Spain. They will be next in.

On board: Thomkal II, Fat Football II, Cam Edwards III, Tasan, Fonzie II, Revrew, Jeff Nights II, Tucker, Naiwf, Coffee Warlord II.

Good luck gentlemen! You’re up this Sunday!

Whoo!

CW Jr. is ready to kick some alien arse, preferably WITHOUT psi-nuked this time. The laundry crew is already upset with me for last missions...dirty armor.

Get me sum action, GB!

Go kick some arse, guys... :)

Go get 'em guys!

We are cheering for you back on the homefront...

Just checking in, I'm here and reading, and ready to kick some alien butt!

At least I went quick, although I wish I could have taken some of those buggers with me. I expect that my son, ZippyJr will be following my footsteps in joining x-com's effort to rid the earth of alein scum. (Kodos isn't scum so he can stay)

Guys, I know no one wants me to die, after all, I boost morale, but c'mon, I only shot our own guy one time.

Hell, Bobby Knight's still coaching isn't he?!

Godzilla Blitz lay in bed and looked up at the dark ceiling above him. The hum of the base fans were the only audible sound. He had been lying here for three hours now, waiting for word from the USA Skyranger. God, how he hated the waiting. The damn waiting was the worst part. When you know good men are putting their lives on the line, and you just want to know that everything is ok, but you have no way of finding out, other than those damn incompetent Skyranger pilots, which are as good as useless, and sometimes even worse.

They should be hearing from the Skyranger any time now. Ten more men on yet another assault on the enemy. What engagement was this, #55? How many men would die today? How many more would die before it was all over? Would we win? Would we lose?

Finally, Godzilla got out of bed, turned on the light, and reached for the toy 8-ball Fortune Teller that sat on his night table. It had been a gift from his wife, a joke sent along in last week's mail to help him relieve the pressure of not knowing any of the important answers. He looked down at the black window on the ball, saw the edge of the white answer cube sitting in the black, sticky fluid inside. Godzila chucked and thought, "Can't do any harm, that's for sure." He thought of a question, then spoke it aloud to himself:

"Will all the men survive this mission?"

He shook the ball, then stopped and looked at the window. The white cube floated up to the top:

"No. Definitely not."

Crap. Wouldn't you know it? Well, let's keep going:

"Will there be human wounded?"

He shook the ball again, and watched as the answer drifted into view:

"Yes. Absolutely."

"Aargh! You're not helping! You're supposed to help relieve stress, not answer all the questions negatively. Tell me something good!" Godzilla thought of another question:

"Will we win the war against the aliens?"

Once again he shook up the ball, then waited. The white answer cube floated into view:

"Ask again later."

"Piece of crap, you stupid fucking ball! Tell me something useful! Let's see...

Will we win the assault?"

The white answer cube floated up to the window so that an edge rested right against the window. No answer was visible.

"Aargh. Some stress relief this is! You're worse than the Skyranger pilots, at least they kind of speak English. Ok, one more question, and if you don't answer this with something positive, I'm tossing you, you hear me? Ok...

Will anyone get three kills today?"

Godzilla shook the ball furiously, then stopped and waited for the answer cube to float up to the window:

"Maybe."

Godzilla yelled, brought the ball over his head, then threw it straight down onto the concrete floor of the base. The ball shattered, black fluid sprayed in all directions, and black pieces of plastic clattered across the floor. The little white cube went spinning wildly into the corner of the room.

"God damn stupid piece of junk! Why did I even bother? You're just a friggin' toy! You don't know jack, do you? Do you!"

With that, he wiped off the droplets of fluid that reached his face, shut off the light, dropped back into bed, and continued restlessly waiting for word of what was going on. Had he bothered to look at the white cube in the corner, this is what it had to say in answer to his last question:

"You are wrong."

God I hate you Kenny.

55th Mission: Spanish Inquisition

The USA Skyranger begins its gentle descent to the Spanish countryside. This will be the second battle of what is turning out to be our second day of multiple battles in less than a week. Although the men inside have heard the reports of the new, faster, more powerful aliens—the Mutons—that were encountered on the last mission, it would appear that Ethereals are still our most dreaded opponent.

Captain Jeff Nights will lead the attack. He’s a rising star among the X-COM elite; some newspapers hailed his last mission as our most successful one to date. Also, let’s give a big welcome to Tucker, a rookie on his first X-COM mission. Talk about a baptism of fire: first mission and he’s up against a battleship!

Left Side:
1. Thomkal II (Heavy Plasma, Power Suit)
2. Fat Football II (Blaster Launcher, Power Suit)
3. Cam Edwards III (Heavy Plasma, Power Suit)
4. Tasan (Heavy Plasma, Power Suit)
5. Fonzie II (Heavy Plasma, Power Suit)

Right Side
1. Revrew (Heavy Plasma, Stun Gun, Power Suit)
2. Jeff Nights II (Heavy Plasma, Power Suit)
3. Tucker (Heavy Plasma, Power Suit)
4. Naiwf (Heavy Plasma, Power Suit)
5. Coffee Warlord II (Heavy Plasma, Power Suit)

The Skyranger descends to the Spanish countryside. The skies are overcast on this warm, breezy day, but as we clear the final layer of clouds we get a look at the battlefield below. We’ll be coming down just to the west of the battleship, which lies a mere 10 yards away from our Skyranger. The massive three-story structure covers our Skyranger in shadow as we drop beside its hulking frame. We can see the telltale marks of the craft: the top two massive octagonal floors that rest on top of the four outer supporting pods and central pod of the first floor. At the rear exit of the Skyranger, about 30 yards away, lies a brick and wood, two-story barn. To the left of our exit lies a small grove. There are open fields at the nose of the Skyranger. The bulk of the battlefield lies to the right, or east, of the Skyranger exit, but there is enough unsecured ground to the left of the craft and at the nose of the craft that we could conceivably come under fire from four directions upon exiting.

I don’t like our position at all. The barn provides good cover for aliens, and the UFO is directly to our right. We could easily get hit by a well-concealed enemy firing at us from two sides or more. Crap.

The Skyranger hits ground. The ramp drops open and falls to the ground with a clang. Silence greets us.

Our tank rumbles onto the ramp. Plasma shots peal in from the left! One blows a hole in the side of the Skyranger, one slams into the side of the ramp, and the other whizzes past the entrance. Our tank turns left: Muton! In the field to our left, about 20 yards away! Thomkal II follows right on the heels of the tank, hits the ramp, then turns and dives straight towards the alien. Thomkal II lands, tucks, rolls, and comes up firing on full auto. The speed of the movement catches the alien off guard, and before he can switch his aim to Thomkal, a plasma blast from Thomkal’s Heavy Plasma rips open his chest. The alien falls with a thud! Rock on, Thomkal! X-COM 1, Aliens 0.

Tucker and Cam Edwards III exit the Skyranger and break sharply right, taking up firing positions near the landing gear of the Skyranger. We move our tank right as well, towards the looming shape of the UFO. We can now make out that the structure directly in front of our exit is a barn, and that there are at least two more barns set back on either side from this one. The rest of the men move towards the exit.

Muton! In a field, to the left of the UFO, about 40 yards away! Tucker and Cam open fire immediately; the Muton drops to a knee to take aim. We were a mere fraction faster than the Muton, but it pays off: Tucker’s shot blows a chunk out of the thing’s shoulder! It stays up, but just long enough for Cam to drill it in the stomach. The creature howls as its purple intestines gush onto the warm Spanish soil. It drops to its knees, then falls forward a moment later, its life quickly draining. X-COM 2, Aliens 0.

Incoming fire! Muton sniper on a barn rooftop! A plasma blast streaks down on us; the blast rips into the top of our tank, and it goes up in a ball of flame! Crap! Where is the sniper? Tucker leaves his spot at the Skyranger and sprints towards the barns to try and get a better look! Wow! What bravery! There it is! Lying on the roof of the right barn, about 40 yards away. Coffee Warlord II exits the Skyranger, drops to a knee, and opens fire just as the Muton lines up Tucker in its sights. Coffee’s shot is dead on, though, and the Muton never gets to pull the trigger: a plasma blast from Coffee’s weapon sends up a puff of purple goo; the alien’s head drops to the rooftop and falls still! Nice shot, Coffee! X-COM 3, Aliens 1.

We manage to move out a bit. The plan is simple for now. We’ll send some men to clear the barns, and some to cover the UFO exits, which lie on the central pod underneath the top two floors. Cam heads up along the Skyranger to try to get around the western support pod of the UFO and to get a firing angle on the south exit door of the central pod. Coffee sets up at the Skyranger’s landing gear to provide cover. Fat Football II heads into the now secured fields to the left of the Skyranger exit to set up the Blaster Launcher. Thomkal II heads for the left barn. Tasan exits and starts for the central barn, which is most likely cleared of aliens: if there had been any in there, they would have opened up on us by now. Tucker holds his position in the field, and scans the right barn for enemy movement.

Things stay quiet for a moment, and we continue to deploy. Fat Football II fires the Blaster Launcher at the central pod of the UFO; the missile slams into the left side exit, which still lies blocked by the west support pod in front of us. The missile explodes, sending smoke, dirt and debris shooting out on both sides of the west support pod, but we hear no alien screams. Fat slams another round into the Blaster Launcher. Cam starts to circle around the far side of this western pod, while Coffee Warlord II moves forward and starts around from the near side. Naiwf exits the Skyranger and follows a short ways behind Cam.

Meanwhile, in the fields, Tasan races to a window on the first barn, and gets a look into the first floor: empty. Thomkal II, approaching the left barn, notices an open front door on the structure, and gets a sixth sense that all is not right with this barn. Suddenly, a Muton comes running out the door into the small field next to the barn! Before it can turn, Thomkal II opens fire and nails it with two direct plasma hits. The Muton howls horribly and tumbles to the ground! X-COM 4, Aliens 1.

Back at the UFO, we continue to advance on the central pod. Cam and Naiwf turn the corner of the west pod, close to within 10 yards of the south exit, and wait for aliens to come out. Fonzie II exits the Skyranger and joins Coffee Warlord II. The two of them turn the near corner of the western pod, and advance to the rear of the central pod. Fat Football II fires a blaster missile through the now visible rip in the central pod’s door, then tries to angle it up and in to the third floor, but the missile turns straight south after making it to the second floor, and explodes over the southern pod. The blast blows a hole in the outer wall there, and also rips a slice out of the second level’s flooring, just in front of Cam and Naiwf. Debris showers onto the ground in front of the men.

Back in the fields and barns, Thomkal II cuts right and follows Tasan into the first barn. So far no aliens, but Tasan cautiously moves to the bottom of the stairs up to the second floor. Tucker, in the field, keeps a look out for trouble from the right barn and the distant fields. Revrew and Jeff Nights II finally exit the Skyranger, now that the area is clear. Jeff heads to help Thomkal II and Tasan clear barns; Revrew heads for the men at the central pod.

Suddenly, a Muton comes out the door of the UFO, right in front of Cam and Naiwf, who both open fire from point blank range. Cam hits once, but it’s Naiwf’s headshot that drops the alien to the ground in a heap, purple goo pouring out of the remains of its shattered skull. Then Coffee Warlord II, standing near the back of the central pod, catches movement inside the UFO through small tear in the side of the outer wall. Both he and Tucker, firing from the field, have angles on the hole. They pour fire at the hole, most of which misses the tiny target, but Tucker sneaks in a shot, and we hear the wail of a Muton’s death throes! Nice shooting men! Before we catch our breaths, another Muton charges out of the UFO! Here they come! Cam sends a stream of plasma into the alien’s side, and it crumbles to the ground screaming! X-COM 7, Aliens 1.

Back in the barns, Tasan rushes up the second floor stairs and finds…

Nothing. The men start to move out of the barn, to search the barn to the left of the present one.

At the UFO, Fonzie II and Coffee Warlord II advance past the central pod a bit and set up a firing position on the right-side, or east-facing door. With Cam and Naiwf holding the south-facing door, we now have a solid firing position. Fat Football II tries another blaster missile shot, but the missile makes a u-turn after entering the gravlifts in the tiny central pod, comes racing back out, and slams into the south pod. The blast punches a hole in that wall, and showers Cam and Naiwf in dirt and smoke. Enough of that stuff. There is obviously something preventing our missiles from getting up inside the UFO.

Revrew makes it around the western pod, sneaks up on the back of the square central pod, and starts alongside it to the left-side door. He circles around the central pod, and comes to the corner just before the south exit. He’s only five feet away from this door. He prepares a proximity grenade, which he’ll try to toss it into the central pod through the door destroyed by Fat’s missiles. He sneaks up on the door…

Muton! Above! On the second floor, about ten feet away! Revrew hasn’t been spotted yet. He takes aim as best he can with one hand and pulls the trigger. The alien’s head explodes as the plasma blast hits it dead on! Whoa! Three more aliens appear in and around the upper floors of the gravlift! And one of them is some kind of new alien—a gooey, purplish, throbbing mass of living jelly. Revrew turns tail, and runs back around the corner, with the proximity grenade still in his throwing hand. Once there, he stores the grenade away, and everyone waits. After a minute, no aliens appear, and Revrew returns to the central pod door to take another look. He cautiously approaches…

Muton, on the second floor! Revrew moves a bit more to get a good shot, then opens fire. Plasma streaks up into the second floor, hitting, but not downing the alien. Revrew quickly retreats again. Once again the men wait. Once again, nothing happens. After another minute, Revrew approaches again, spots another Muton, and gets off more shots. The Muton grunts in pain, and Revrew slinks away again. He repeats the procedure one more time. This time, as he gets to the opening, he spots the purple jelly mass on the second floor. He fires on full auto and puts three direct hits on the thing. It makes a horrible hissing sound, and stops quivering! Another kill for Revrew! X-COM 9, Aliens 1.

Having burned through his luck for the day, Revrew goes around to the backside of the exit pod, but keeps his eyes on the crack in the exit pod. Fonzie II leaves Coffee’s side and moves up toward the east UFO exit to try his luck, while Cam and Naiwf keep their plasma’s trained on the south exit, and Fat keeps his Blaster Launcher ready for firing.

Back at the barns, things are quiet: Tasan, Thomkal II, and Jeff Nights clear the far barn on the left, and start cautiously across the field behind the central barn. Tucker keeps his eyes trained on the as yet unsearched fields and barns that lie to the north of the UFO.

Back at the UFO, as Fonzie II draws within five feet of the east exit, Revrew spots movement inside the exit pod through the crack in the back wall! He yells a warning to Fonzie II, then jams his heavy plasma in the crack and pulls the trigger. A Muton wails in agony, and Cam and Naiwf see a spray of purple blood shoot out the destroyed south door. Nice shot Revrew! Boo-yah! X-COM 10, Aliens 1.

Suddenly, things happen too fast! Two Mutons come pouring out of the south exit! Cam and Naiwf open fire, and one of the Mutons goes sprawling. A plasma blast from the second one cuts right between Cam and Naiwf, but they keep up the fire! The Muton darts back inside the UFO. Suddenly, the east door opens up right in front of Fonzie II. He spots green and purple movement inside the UFO, and raises his plasma to fire. Kablaam! A grenade goes off right in front of the door, blowing Fonzie backwards to the ground in a cloud of debris. He lands hard, and his Heavy Plasma clatters away from him. Everything seems to be moving in some kind of surreal slow motion: He can no longer hear a thing, he has no idea where he is, and he feels a sharp sting in his left hand. He looks down at his hand: his index finger is gone from the knuckle up, and blood is oozing down the remains of the thin armor glove. Suddenly, shots come streaming out of the smoke at the UFO entrance and sail inches over his head, jolting him back to the present.

Fonzie rolls right and grabs his weapon, just as the east door whizzes shut. He looks down again at his bloody left hand, roars in rage, stands, and rushes the UFO door. Once there, he slams the opening pad. The door slides open. Right in front of him are a mass of purple jelly and a Muton right behind it! The Muton is facing towards the open south exit—away from Fonzie—so Fonzie snaps his aim to the purple jelly, and opens fire at point blank range. The mass of gooey jelly explodes in a liquid blast, sending goop all over the interior of the pod. The Muton, now alerted, twists to return fire. Fonzie dives right, away from the doorframe, as plasma streaks through the space he just vacated. He gets up as the door slides shut, and races towards the safety of the near corner of the pod to catch his breath. X-COM 11, Aliens 1.

Cam wheels into action from the other side of the pod. If he can catch the Muton facing the east door, he should have an open shot at the thing’s back. Cam rushes the ten feet to the shattered south exit, and steps inside the UFO. Bingo! Muton, facing the east exit, four feet away! Cam twists towards the Muton—but loses his footing on a broken piece of the UFO door and stumbles! The Muton spins towards the noise. Cam desperately pulls the trigger on his heavy plasma as he falls to a knee, but the shot is drawn low by the motion of his fall: it sails between the Muton’s legs and crashes into the door behind it. The Muton roars and pulls the trigger. The plasma blast slams into Cam’s head at point blank range, sending skull fragments, blood, tissue, and shattered Power Armor in all directions! Cam’s headless body falls backwards to the floor of the UFO pod with a thump. Suddenly, the UFO door opens from behind; an instant later, the smiling Muton’s head disappears in a purple explosion. The body falls forward, revealing Fonzie II standing with his smoking Heavy Plasma in the doorframe. X-COM 12, Aliens 2.

Fonzie scans up into the interior of the UFO for signs of movement, but all is silent. That was the last alien! The mission is over!

As Naiwf, Revrew, and Coffee start to converge on the central exit, Fonzie searches the area near the east door of the UFO for his missing finger. After a couple of minutes he shrugs, takes a look at the central pod of the UFO, and walks back inside. There is red blood, purple goo, and purple Muton blood all over the inside of the pod. Pieces of the shattered door, body parts, and corpses are strewn over the floor like discarded toys. Fonzie spots Cam’s corpse and walks over to it. He drops to a knee, pulls out his knife, grabs Cam’s left hand, pulls the armor glove off, and saws off the index finger. He holds it up, examines it, nods his approval, and sticks it in a pouch on his ammo belt. That one should do nicely.

Wrap-up

Promotions: None.
Kills: Cam Edwards III, 2; Revrew, 3; Thomkal II, 2; Naiwf, 2; Fonzie II, 2; Tucker, 1; Coffee Warlord II; 1.
KIA: Cam Edwards III.
Wounded: Fonzie (1).
Attribute Improvements: Revrew, Thomkal II, Naiwf, Fonzie II, Tucker, Coffee Warlord, Fat Football II.
Final score: 608!
Mission Notes:
Frustrating to lose Cam when we were so close to another casualty-free mission. That makes two missions in a row that we have lost an agent right at the end. Damn.

Go FOF X-COM!

I LIVED!

I'm shocked, 2 kills, an improvement and I survived. Maybe the hiatus was a good thing for me :D

I don't think you should count the tank as a kill for the aliens. It confuses me as to the number of agents we lose. We don't really care of a tank gets blown up, but if one of our brave agents eats it, it's a tragedy.

BTW: git mee sum axtion!

YES! I got a kill:D

dola-

to bad we lost Cam:(

So now that tucker has gotten into battle (nice kill tuck!!!), does that mean that I'll be involved in the next European battle? I surely hope my assumption is true...

Yes, a sad day indeed. A noble soldier who gave his life fighting the good fight. This is a difficult day for those who knew him, but we can take solace knowing that a little bit of Cam will live on inside all of us.

As for me, I'll always carry a little bit of Cam with me wherever I go. Sewn to my hand, in fact.

This marks the first time in my life that I've appreciated anyone giving me the finger. Thanks Cam! May you rest in peace!

I don't know. Tanks have feelings too. But you have a good point, and I'll change that from now on. I just hope the self esteem of our tanks isn't hurt, though.

As for action, I think you are "on the plane" to Europe, which means that you probably won't get to the base there in time for any more fights today. If you're lucky, you'll make it in in time if the EU COM Skyranger launches once more today, which it most likely will. I don't know your ETA off hand though.

Jeeber: Don't have the game handy now, but you should be on the next launch from your base (USA?).

I'll update the game in the next couple of days, but I think the most likely scenario is that the ASIA COM Skyranger, which is inbound for Europe, will reach one of the remaining large UFOs. Another possibility is that EU COM launches to catch something in western Europe, and reaches that UFO before ASIA COM reaches their's, in which case ASIA COM would follow that assault.

But then again, this is war, so you just never know.

Good mission, guys! Cam III, you will be missed...

:::shudder::: Searching barns again....:::shudder:::

Amazingly Thomkal survived the barn searches-and with that sixth sense he exhibited, I think he should be first in line for psionics training. :)

I guess Cam was an organ donor then? But does a finger really count as an organ?

Good mission, men! Regrets to the Edwards family - time to send in the great grandson...

DataKing III is ready to sacrifice his puny (21 strength) and cowardly (10 bravery) self for the betterment of his comrades.

BTW, what ever happened to opting out and waiting for better bravery ratings? Are we not doing that any more? Just curious.

Anyway, excellent stuff as always, GB. Glad to see X-Com back in action once more.

Thanks for the great mission, GB. I'll take those 3 kills.

But what the bloody hell is the idea sending me in alone 3 times like that?? You tryin' to get the veteran dusted? Jeez, man, I haven't crapped my pants that many times in a 10-minute span since my parents flew me to the U.S. for the first time and I left a nasty trail down the concourse at JFK aiport. :o woops, maybe that was too much info...

Does that mean that Cam has been sleeping around again?:D

Great job guys! Find me something or someone cool to research ... or torture.

Since when did all the aliens quit hanging out in the barns?? ;- )

Anyway, glad to see I'm still alive, but I want in on the killin'

So does this mean Cam gets .05% of Fonzie's kills from now on?

All I can say is that at least Cam III lasted longer than his grandfather. Doesn't he have a medal named after him?

Lokugh

Tucker. Patman: LOL! Very funny!

revrew: You were a star! Yeah, three rushes to the UFO was a bit risky, but as I used to ask the men at Gettysburg, "You want to live forever?" Plus, you were much better at it than Cam III was, who, well, tended to lose his head in spots like that.

Lokugh: I think the medal name got switched to the Coffee Warlord Award, because Coffee Senior managed to get himself killed even faster than Cam Senior did.

Thomkal, Tasan: Yeah, you two and JeffNights had a cakewalk, even though I thought I was sending you off into some tough action. The aliens seemed to concentrate in the UFO on this last mission.

Crappy: We need you to sew Cam's finger onto Fonzie.

DataKing: Yes, you can still opt out of low bravery. Sorry about the confusion, I had been having trouble keeping track of everything and so now I make the default "no" for "opt up" when I add someone back on the waiting list, but you can always change it. Would you like to? Also, since you haven't been in any action, I could switch you to the top of the waiting list, and someone else could take your position, if they want to opt up. Priority would go in order of one's position on the waiting list. Let me know what you'd like to do.

___________

I should have an update about this Sunday's mission posted tomorrow, and Sunday looks fine again.

Just as a quick comment, I realize the pace is a lot slower, but this "Sunday mission" pace is working really well for me now, and is pretty manageable. I'm thinking that we might occasionally do a special "Thursday Night Edition" too, but for the most part, I think I can keep up this pace indefinitely.

Yeah, the world was about to implode when Cam Jr and Coffee Jr were on the same Skyranger. A pity one half of such an illustrious family name had to die.

And, Lokugh...CW Sr died without ever stepping off the skyranger platform. A defining moment in X-Com history. :)

I don't want to cause any confusion or a lot of work on your part, but if it isn't too much trouble, I would like to opt out of my current "incarnation" and wait for someone decent. I'm just tired of all of my kin stinking up the joint. :p

Not a problem at all! So...

Who wants to take DK's place? Right now Anxiety is first in line that wants to opt up, but he's last on the waiting list, so if you're on the waiting list and want in right away, let me know. Just post here (let's say by Friday night, 12PM, CST?), and you'll be in the thick of things (and very scared too, judging by your bravery) fairly soon.

Of course, I want in. But if someone higher does also, I have no problems with that. I can be very patient.

-Anxiety

Actually, I'm on the Opt up list as well (or should be), but if Anxiety wants it, I will let him have it.

Lokugh

thinking deep thoughts...

...Will Cam pick his nose with Fonzie's finger?

CR

Update

As the EU COM Skyranger refuels and the USA Skyranger heads back across the Atlantic, the ASIA COM Skyranger continues to rocket towards Europe. Within an hour, they get word that two large alien supply ships have touched down just outside the English UFO base. The Skyranger veers northwest and heads for England...

On board are the following men: Jfbbis, Blade6119 III, BYU, Danny Van Halen, Qwikshot II, Travis II, Wade Moore, Airhog, Patman II, and Sublime II.

Good luck!!

Mission should be up this Sunday evening!

That's right boys and girls! You bet your ass we got some Faster Pussycat playin' right now!

I want to shoot some aliens or just die. If it is anything like DK's WWII dynasty, I should last all of 15 secs. Hopefully I don't take anyone with me, but I make no promises.

I thought I was on the Asia Skyranger heading to Europe? But I'm not on my way to the fight.

Anxiety, Lokugh: Since Lokugh is ok with not opting up this time, it's your's! Lokugh, I'll make sure to switch you to "opt up" for the next one, so you can get in the action quickly.

Chief Rum: Deep nose, deep thoughts.

DVH: It's been a while since you've been controlled by aliens, hasn't it? Or maybe, they have never left you?

The Afoci: Your crawfish will protect you.

Al: Sorry for the confusion. You are being "transferred" to Europe. The transfers use commercial airliners, which seem to take forever to get anywhere. You should land at EU COM sometime in the next day or two (game time). My guess is that you will be on the next EU COM mission if your plane gets there in time, or definitely the one after that. It was just unfortunate timing that the UFOs hit after I started all the transfers (I figured we were safe because we had a massive wave strike us just a couple of days earlier). In any case, Europe seems to be where the action is, so you should get a good share of fighting in the coming battles. If you live through them, that is.

The next mission is still looking good for Sunday night. I'm about 3/4 done with it, and have a big chunk of time to play tomorrow night.

Bringing up those pesky aliens controlling me again. If I've said once, I've said it a thousand times, aliens have never controlled me, so stop bringing up my East German wife...er..

GB : you mentionned I was on SAM-Com. Does that mean I am injured and being healed ?

Alf: Yes. We're still on the same game day as when this particular thread started, so you've got 20+ days of healing left to do. I'm sending badly hurt people down to South America so that they will be safe if we lose a base due to attack. I'm pretty sure the aliens attack active bases, and since SAM COM is new, the chances of it getting attacked are slim.

But I might be wrong. :)

Thanks

Good luck again, guys...

I will make sure your women are defended on the homefront...

;)

Update

Whoops!

Looks like we're going to need some fresh bodies...

Ring ring, ring ring!

Calling The Havok, Ronnie Dobbs, Erik Flamebeard, Bishop MVP, and Katon.

Ring ring!

Your planet needs you.

(To be called up to the active list, please respond in this thread!)

_________

Barring unforseen technical difficulties, Mission 56 goes up tomorrow! I just finished it this evening, and only have a quick spell-check and edit left to do.

P.S. I checked to see where all our transfers stand. I know some people were wondering...

Anxiety, CTHomer, and Al Hill III have arrived at the EU COM base, and will be on the next mission that goes out from that base. Jeeber and The Afoci are 48 hours away (game time). Things appear to be quieting down on the radar screen, so this shouldn't be too much longer of a wait. Havok apparently missed his flight. We're calling him again.

I'll be making a big update to our stat chart after this coming mission.

I am ready to go active when I am called. :)

Who keeps stealing Blitz's stars? :confused:

The newest incarnation of illinifan is almost active. Almost. ;)

oh god....three dead?...now im worried...think happy thoughts!

oh crap...misread...4???? AHHHHH!!!!!

and all he can say is whoops?!

Illinifan: I have a feeling that quite a few of the people on the waiting list were ones that were here a few months ago, but don't regularly visit much now. I'm guessing that about half won't be answering their phone calls, which means the people that are on the waiting lists and checking in regularly should move right up the line.

Swaggs: Got it. Just to clarify, you only have to confirm when you get "the phone call" to be activated. The reason I do that is that occasionally people come by once, read the dynasty, sign up, then never come back. The "phone call" system to become active when your name gets to the top of the waiting list lets me know that the person is still reading. Since half the fun is the supporting posts that everyone makes, this helps insure that we get active readers as agents.


Kodos: Someone is definitely trying to tell me something, eh? I don't pay much attention to the ratings, but it's impossible not to notice: 2 posters came by and gave this a "1", the worst rating. I sure seem to have made some enemies somehow.

Blade6119: Well, it's been a while, you know? I'm a bit rusty, and I forgot about the "don't bunch up because of enemy blaster launchers" thingie. Really, it's nothing too get upset about. It was just one teeeny mistake. Well, maybe not a teeny mistake. Maybe it's more of a really big mistake, but anyway, think of all the people on the waiting list that are happy that they are getting called up.

Then again, maybe USA COM just has lots of extra cell phone minutes that they needed to use up, and maybe no one gets killed at all. I could always give a quick call to the Skyranger. They'll clear everything right up, I'm sure.

That always works...since our pilots are soooo clear....but a call might not be a bad thing before the mission comes up...oh...and if yu feel like keeping me alive so i can fight with my boy achilles nex time asia goes out feel free

Maybe the missing Illinifan who went to the aliens has something to do with this? :eek: ;)

56th Mission: British Supply Ship Assault

It is late afternoon as the ASIA COM Skyranger starts its descent to northern tip of Great Britain, where it will attempt to take on one of the two alien supply ships that have landed near the British base.

Suddenly, alarms blare inside the Skyranger! Alert! Enemy UFO in the air! The supply ship has taken off! The Skyranger pilot begins violent evasive maneuvering, which tosses about the equipment in the Skyranger bay. Fortunately, the men were strapped in for the final descent, so no one gets hurt in the five minutes of rough flying that follows. The large UFO supply ships are not made for dog fighting, so it isn’t long before the Skyranger can loop around and make an attempt to assault the one remaining supply ship still on the ground. This time things go smoothly, and a few minutes later, the shaken—but not stirred—crew gets its first glimpse of the battlefield.

Colonel Wade Moore is in charge of the following men:

Left Side:
1. Jfbbis (Heavy Plasma, Power Suit)
2. Blade6119 III (Heavy Plasma, Power Suit)
3. BYU (Heavy Plasma, Power Suit)
4. Danny Van Halen (Heavy Plasma, Power Suit)
5. Qwikshot II (Heavy Plasma, Power Suit)

Right Side
1. Travis II (Heavy Plasma, Power Suit)
2. Wade Moore (Heavy Plasma, Power Suit)
3. Airhog (Blaster Launcher, Heavy Plasma, Power Suit)
4. Patman II (Heavy Plasma, Power Suit)
5. Sublime II (Heavy Plasma, Power Suit)

The tip of Britain apparently has had a bit of a cold spell lately, as there is a light dusting of snow covering most of the dry grass on the barren, rocky plain below, even though it is only early September. Freak storm, or perhaps the effects of alien climate change? In any case, the men should be plenty comfortable in the Crappy Power Suits they are wearing. We’ll be landing on the west side of the battlefield, and it’s easy to see the large supply UFO. The left end of it sits just at the tip of our Skyranger; the rest of its bulk stretches out to the east. It is of typical design: it is three-floors high, and has two large octagonal ends connected by a thinner corridor. Otherwise, there looks to be no signs of human habitation out here; all we can see are rocks, snow, and dry grass. The landscape is hardly flat, though: there are numerous small hills, and jagged rock outcroppings that cut up the landscape. It’ll be hard to travel in a straight line today; sight lines will be short as we make our way through the battlefield. We can see three such obstacles just to the right of the Skyranger exit; there is an unclimable rock butte on either side of a small mound that sits directly adjacent to our Skyranger exit. To the rear of the Skyranger, we see another hill. The area to the left of the Skyranger is secure.

The Skyranger touches down on the snow and dry grass. The ramp falls out…

Silence! Our tank rolls onto the ramp. Incoming plasma fire comes from the front of the Skyranger and slams into the weak rear armor of our tank, almost ripping the turret right off. Somehow, our tank manages to make it to the bottom of the ramp, where it spins and sees a Muton standing in front of the UFO, about 40 yards away! Jfbbis and Travis II bound out of the Skyranger. Jfbbis cuts left; Travis II cuts right. Both men jump off the ramp, roll back toward the front of the Skyranger, and come up behind the landing gear, where they open fire on the Muton. Jfbbis is the second-best shot in X-COM, and he proves his mettle here: his first plasma blast hits the Muton in the face, which blows up in a sickening, sticky, explosion that sends purple goo everywhere. The creature then falls forward to plop dead in the thin layer of snow. Nice shooting, Jfbbis! X-COM 1, Aliens 0.

We move out. We’ll split up into two groups. One group will sweep right, clear the area behind the UFO, and then come around the far corner of the craft. The other group will head up alongside our Skyranger, go around the near corner of the UFO, and set up a firing position on the near door. This UFO should have two exits, one on each of the octagonal sections of the craft, about 50 yards apart from each other, and on the other side of the craft as we face it. The group that sweeps the back of the UFO will assault the far door; the group that comes up alongside the Skyranger will handle the assault on the near door. We put our plan into action.

Travis II breaks right, for the path that runs to the left of the small mound directly beside our Skyranger. He makes it only ten yards, when he sees a Muton, about 40 yards away, trying to sneak up on our position from around the hill. He drops to a knee and whispers to the other men. Blade6119 and Wade Moore come charging onto the Skyranger ramp, locate the Muton on their HUD’s, and open fire from 50 yards away. Blade6119 blows apart one of the creature’s hands with a plasma blast, and then Wade takes a chunk of the thing’s stomach out, but still the creature stays up, and starts to try to lift its weapon with its one remaining hand. Travis II pops up from behind the hill though, and nails the Muton for a third and final time with a perfectly aimed plasma blast that removes the top half of its skull. The creature wails and falls! We swing our tank around to this side of the Skyranger to give our now exposed team some cover. Airhog exits the Skyranger, and makes a dash for the small hill to the rear of the craft. Beyond this hill is secure ground, and the hill looks to be both clear of aliens and to be an excellent spot from which to fire the Blaster Launcher. The rest of the agents move up to the Skyranger exit. X-COM 2, Aliens 0.

Again! More movement! This time Travis II spots a Muton to the right side of the small mound, about 40 yards away and cutting behind the jagged mound of rock that lies near the nose of the Skyranger. Just as quickly as it appears, it disappears though. Damn. We push our tank forward to try and locate this alien. It heads for the narrow trail to the right of the small mound and to the left of the jagged pile of rocks. There! The Muton is just past the rock mound, about 40 yards from our tank! All at the same time, Wade shuffles right to get the rock pile out of his way, our tank turns to get out of his way, and the Muton opens fire on our badly damaged tank. The Muton tears up dirt and snow near the tank’s treads, but doesn’t score a hit. Wade however, shows why he is the best shot in X-COM: his first plasma blast, from 50 yards away, hits the Muton square in the chest. It falls backwards with a thud. However, it doesn’t scream, and even from this distance Wade can see the bulky humanoid’s chest heaving. It’s unconscious, but not dead.

Things grow quiet for the moment, and we deploy in force. We split up into two squads. Qwikshot II, Sublime II, Jfbbis, and Patman II (Squad One) will go around the near corner and assault the near door. Wade Moore, Danny Van Halen, Blade6119 III, BYU, and Travis II (Squad Two) will sweep the rocky plain and come around the far side of the UFO. We’ll send our tank with Squad Two for a few minutes, then bring it back to lead Squad One around the always active near corner.

Over the course of the next few minutes, Squad One gets into position at the front of the Skyranger, then waits for the tank to finish helping Squad Two get started on their search. The landscape beyond the initial set of hills and outcroppings next to the Skyranger is much more jagged and rough than it appeared from the Skyranger. The troops are faced with a maze of small buttes and hills that extends well past the far end of the UFO. Blade 6119 III and Travis II advance behind the tank to the far corner of the UFO—right before the still breathing, but downed Muton—and wait for Wade, DVH, and BYU to sweep the rocky landscape. The remaining three men are forced at times to split up and each take a different path through the narrow walls of the maze. It is a harrowing and dangerous search, fit only for the crazy. Fortunately, we have DVH with us today, and he is at his best here. At one point, the men come upon a long, winding, two-foot wide fissure that cuts through one of the buttes. DVH volunteers to check it out, and heads down the fissure while Wade and BYU continue to sweep the outside. As DVH makes his way down the narrow, dark fissure, he walks by another smaller fissure that comes into the current one from behind him. DVH turns to look back up this alternate path, and sees a Muton standing calmly five feet away with his back turned to him! DVH quietly raises his heavy plasma and pulls the trigger: the blast slams the Muton against the rock wall, where it slumps to the ground stunned! DVH quickly runs to the Muton, grabs its grenades and heavy plasma, pulls the pin on one of the grenades, drops it at the alien’s feet, and runs back around the corner. Ka Booom! When DVH turns back around to check out his handiwork, there is no more Muton, but the walls of the fissure are painted a pretty shade of purple. DVH continues down the fissure, happily whistling—of course—Purple Rain. X-COM 3, Aliens 0.

Our tank turns away from Blade 6119 III and Travis II, and heads for Squad One at the near corner of the UFO. It arrives shortly, and Qwikshot II and Sublime II jump in behind it. With Jfbbis and Patman II following a ways behind, the tank leads the Squad cautiously around the corner. It makes the corner without incident, turns to face the UFO door, and waits for aliens to exit. Qwikshot II and Sublime II are right behind the tank. Patman II and Jfbbis are against the outer wall of the UFO as a reserve force.

Meanwhile, at the other corner of the UFO, Blade 6119 follows DVH’s strategy, and strips the weapons and grenades off the fallen Muton that Wade hit, then trots back to his position behind a rock outcropping overlooking the corner of the UFO. After a couple of minutes the dazed Muton stands, a mere five feet in front of Travis II and Blade 6119. Neither one of the two men has stun weaponry, so there is little choice here. Blade6119 nods to Travis II, who pulls the trigger on his heavy plasma and blows the Muton into eternity. X-COM 4, Aliens 0.

Back at the near corner, where our tank, Qwikshot, and Sublime wait, the door whirs and a Muton steps out, right in front of our men! The Muton is fast, and manages to get off a shot that nearly knocks our tank out of action, but Qwikshot II and Sublime II are quick to return fire, and Qwikshot II blows a hole in the Muton’s stomach that quickly sends it to the ground wailing. Within seconds it is dead! X-COM 5, Aliens 0.

Back in the rocky wasteland, DVH, BYU, and Wade continue their search. DVH clears the first narrow fissure, but comes out the end of it only face another one that runs through the next large butte. The three men have now secured the area that runs past the UFO, and they break south, to begin a wide turn through the rocky landscape that should bring them around the far corner of the craft when they complete it. Blade 6119 and Travis II anchor this turn by slowing moving along the UFO’s outer wall as the other three men sweep the arc through the maze.

Lest we forget, Airhog is still sitting atop the small hill, Heavy Blaster in hand. He passes time by counting the clouds in the late afternoon sky.

Back at the near-side UFO exit, Patman II switches places with Qwikshot II in order for everyone to try to get some experience, and within seconds of setting up at the tank, gets his wish: a Muton steps out of the exit, and Patman II blows his head off with a heavy plasma blast from ten feet away. The alien drops like a sack of potatoes to the soft snow. X-COM 6, Aliens 0.

This is no time to wait though, as right on its heels another Muton pops out the door. This one gets off two quick shots that shatter our tank’s turret and take it completely out of action. Patman II and Sublime II return fire, hitting the Muton numerous times, but the alien doesn’t fall. It darts back inside the UFO and the door whirs shut. With little cover left, Patman II and Sublime II run back towards the corner of the UFO, and call to Airhog for support. Airhog fires the Blaster Launcher up over the UFO, brings the missile down to ground level, and then slams in into the UFO door. The explosion spews flame and smoke inside the UFO, melts the snow for 50 feet in all directions around the spot where the UFO door used to be, and sets the remaining grass aflame. As this happens Qwikshot II starts to jog back to switch weapons with Airhog, to give him a chance to get in on some up-close fighting. Patman II, Sublime II, and Jfbbis peer through the smoke and fire near the corner of the UFO, and spot a Muton, ten feet away, stumbling through the flames! Sublime II quickly takes aim and drills the creature in the chest. It howls and falls face first into the burning grass. Airhog quickly loads then fires the Blaster Launcher again, this time aiming to send the missile through the hole that used to be the UFO door. The missile disappears inside, and a tremendous explosion shakes the UFO—a much larger explosion than that of just the blaster missile. Muton screams fill the air. Outer wall panels come popping off and crash to the snow with loud thuds. Smoke and flames are everywhere. Our men, by the near corner, luckily appear safe, but the panels next to them have been blown apart, and through these they can look inside at the remains of the interior of this end of the first floor. The entire area is gutted, black smoke and flames fill the interior of the craft. There are no interior walls standing, but in humorous irony the interior door at this end of the craft is still standing, with no walls left around it. Apparently Airhog must have hit one of the fuel components with that shot. X-COM 8, Aliens 0.

Back at the other end of the UFO, Squad Two completes it search of the crevices and corridors of the area around the far corner of the UFO, and all five men begin to close on the UFO door. With much of the interior at the other end of the UFO destroyed, Squad One may be able to spot any movement down this end of the UFO, but there is still plenty of angles and corners that could hide movement, and the far interior wall is intact, so Squad Two will have to approach carefully.

As Squad Two closes on the door at the far end of the craft, Jfbbis and Sublime cut through one of the holes in the side of the UFO and make their way cautiously towards the far door from inside the craft. We’ll come at the aliens from two sides.

As they do this, Qwikshot II switches weapons with Airhog, who starts to jog towards Patman II, who is covering the advance of the men inside the UFO.

As BYU and Travis II cluster around the UFO door, Jfbbis sneaks up on it from the inside of the UFO. The door sits on the octagonal far end of the craft, and Jfbbis doesn’t have a good view into the room from the remains of the narrow corridor where he stands. We do a one-two here: Jfbbis preps a grenade and tosses it down the corridor towards the exit door. The grenade rolls to a stop about five feet from where the door should be, and goes off with a crash. At the sound of the explosion, BYU stands, mashes the opening pad on the outside of the craft, and barges into the smoky entry room: nothing! It’s empty! He quickly works his way right, and turns a corner to check another section of the outer corridor: nothing again.

The first floor of these supply ships have a long outer corridor that surrounds one large inner room. The inner walls are destroyed at the near end of this craft, but the men still have to make their way around them at the far end of the craft. While Jfbbis was working towards the exit door, Sublime II worked his way to the far wall and started toward the grav-lift that leads up to the command control area on the third floor. In past missions, this is where the alien commanders have been, and we always seem to run into fighting when we hit the grav-lifts. As Sublime works his way down the far corridor, he reaches a point 10-feet from the grav-lift, and can now see into the back room that makes up this section of the outer corridor: nothing here as well. The first floor of the UFO is officially clear.

We prepare for our assault up towards the third floor. Patman II and Airhog take up covering positions on the grav-lift that leads up to the second floor. Sublime II and Jfbbis take up covering positions on the grav-lift up to the dangerous third floor. Squad Two enters the UFO in force; they’ll be the assault force up the grav-lift. BYU will lead the way. The invincible Danny Van Halen will follow. Wade Moore, armed now with the stun gun, will go third. Blade 6119 and Travis II will follow as needed.

On three. One, two, three…

BYU sprints around the final corner and heads right for the grav-lift, with Danny right on his heels. Into the lift they go, BYU first…

Nothing there! BYU looks up…

All clear! BYU activates the lift and heads right up to the tiny room that makes up the top of the lift on the third floor. Once there, he takes up a firing position on the door right in front of him, and signals Danny. Danny signals Wade, and then heads up to the third floor. Once there he trains his weapon on the ominous exit door. Wade follows quickly into the grav-lift.

Suddenly, the grav-lift door on the third floor opens, and a huge, snarling Muton lunges right for BYU. BYU and DVH pull their triggers out our sheer reflex, and two streams of plasma slam into the Muton just as it crashes into BYU. BYU is driven backwards and down, and man and alien fall to the floor of the tiny room in a tangled heap. However, only one of them is still moving. The Muton’s body has been cut in two from the ferocious plasma blasts: it is dead. BYU frantically scrambles up from the floor as DVH switches his aim to the grav-lift door to await more aliens, but there is none. That was the last alien! X-COM 9, Aliens 0!

DVH pops up the visor on his helmet, and reaches out to wipe off some of the purple goo that is all over BYU’s armor. He then sticks a sticky finger covered with goo into his mouth, and gulps down the lumpy substance. Humm, this is better than my East German wife’s tapioca, he thinks. He pulls out a water bottle, pours out the contents onto the floor, and then busily starts to refill it with the tasty treat: Muton Purple Goo!

Wrap-up

Promotions: None.
Kills: Jfbbis, 1; BYU, 1; Airhog, 1; Patman II, 1; Qwikshot II, 1; Sublime II, 1; Travis II, 2.
KIA: None.
Wounded: None.
Attribute Improvements: Everybody!
Final score: 376. Nice job!
Mission Notes:
Excellent mission! No casualties!

Airhog’s Blaster rocket that hit the UFO power source and subsequently trashed the near end of the UFO took out quite a bit of the valuable supplies that were on board as well. Usually we get a load of stuff to take back with us, but this time, we get less than half of our usual booty. And even though we racked up nine kills, we were only able to recover four Muton bodies. The rest were devoured by the flames, or blown apart in the explosion. We’ll have to remember that trick if we need to make our way into a particularly tough supply ship. We could eliminate everything on the first floor with hits on both power sources.

Danny Van Halen didn’t get credit for a kill. The only thing I can think of is that the grenade he picked up and dropped must have been a proximity grenade, and the game doesn’t give kills for those. Bummer.

Go FOF X-COM!

Great job:D

Excellent mission GB, show those invaders a thing or two about tactics!

The invincible Danny Van Halen, it's true.

It's oh, so true.

DVH has finally been Unchained. Great job, boys!

Yes, I have been unchained, haven't I. THE SHACKLES ARE FREE!

And you know what that mean's..

It's time to get kind'a rowdy..

[Insert Best of Skid Row CD.. Youth Gone Wild]

This is what it's all about!

Travis, Tucker: Thanks!

DVH: You were a force today!

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X-COM II Troop Master List (After Mission 56)

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