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

[Godzilla Blitz]

In the meantime…

November 6-11

We get a handful of UFO sightings over the next few days. On the 7th, CapnMorgan, armed with our new fusion ball launcher, manages to completely destroy a medium-size UFO over Europe. This is the first time we have successfully shot down any UFO larger than a scout, but we’re still a few weeks away from being able to attempt some of the larger UFOs.

On the 8th, Superman destroys a small UFO over ASIA, and once again we don’t get any ground action. Over the next couple of days, a disconcertingly large number of UFO battleships show up on X-COM radar. Our aircraft have insufficient firepower, so we have to wait for the large UFOs to land, but none of them obliges. We end up letting them all go without a fight. Damn.

On a more positive note, Crappy’s team of engineers develops a prototype Flying Armor Suit, modeled after that of the Floaters. The suit will enable our men to fly, and will also give them better protection in battle. We immediately begin production at Europe and in the USA.

Finally, on November 11, CapnMorgan downs a medium scout UFO over Siberia. We launch the USA COM Skyranger up over Alaska to assault the crash site.

On board:
Alf III, Airhog II, Wade Moore, AStott, Jeeber D, Ardent Enthusiast, Achilles, Patman II, Sublime II, Katon II.

Good luck, men!

This mission should go up on Monday.

[Vince]

Rookie Vince requesting permission to join the Spanish base assault.

[Poli]

Originally Posted by Godzilla Blitz

Alien Base Attack Update

X-COM Command has decided to open up the Spanish alien base attack force to volunteers, rather than limiting it to the guard duty troops at AFRICA COM, which actually wouldn’t have enough men to fill our Skyranger. Anyone with 3 missions or less experience and who is not currently in PSI-training may volunteer. The attack will occur later in the month, so there will most likely be a few missions before then. If you’re young and inexperienced, but want in on the fight of your life, pipe up here by posting in this thread. Don’t delay, as seats are limited! This is your chance to be a hero.

By the way, Sergeant Warlord II will lead the attack. Captain Nights II, you are too valuable to lose; your request is denied. Sorry.

Seaman Recruit Enthusiast, reporting as requested, sir. I'd like to volunteer for the Spanish base attack. I'll likely die in doing so, but I have no fear.

[Travis]

If possible, I'd like to volunteer for the base attack. Figure the climate change from Canada to Spain has to make the fighting easier as I can probably ditch the parka.

[Poli]

As an E1, I'm going to fill out a request chit that The Afoci accompany us out to the base. CW, The Afoci, and AE can take anything that comes our way.

[JeeberD]

Glad to be heading out on another mission already. Time to blast a few more aliens...

[Poli]

JeeberD, make sure I stay alive. Over.

[thealmighty]

Almighty volunteering for mission duty.

[JeeberD]

Originally Posted by ardent enthusiast

JeeberD, make sure I stay alive. Over.

I'll do what I can, but I do have the worst reaction time of any soldier currently in X-Com. So most likely I'll just be watching out for number one...

[MikeVic]

Well, if there's a chance I could become a big hero... and as long as there are others to fight before me... I guess I can bless the Spanish base attack with myself.

[3ric]

Oh, sod it. I get killed almost as quickly as the Blade family.

*the clone factory hums*

"3Ric V enlisting to be on the waiting list as an opt-in!"

[Alf]

If I escape from Siberia I volunteer for the Spanish assault !

[hoopsguy]

Hablo Espanol? Check (many years ago).

Speak Sectoid? Negative.

I think that makes me a solid candidate for Spain. Would be great to have the PSI numbers before making those decisions but that doesn't sound like a luxury we have.

[Dawgfan1980]

{Gets up off the couch} Bastard Aliens in Spain? What, they need volunteers??? {Grabs a roll of duct tape} Now where did I put those Grenades.

Dawgfan1980 wants to try his hand at this, call me a "not so smart bomb" and just see how spectacularly I can die.

[Lokugh]

I volunteer for the Spanish base raid.

[Abe Sargent]

Originally Posted by Godzilla Blitz

91st Mission: Ethereals in Ohio

Suddenly, as the men on the left side of the UFO work their way around the craft, a wave of PSI energy rolls over them. Rawisdan lets out a bloodcurdling scream and starts babbling in Ethereal! Shit. Third in the line of men, he opens fire on Anxiety II, who is only a few yards in front of him. Hot plasma rips through the weak rear of Anxiety’s Crappy Armor and blows a huge hole in his lower back. Anxiety’s upper torso folds back over his legs and he crumples to the ground dead! Damn it! CT Homer—just in front of Anxiety—sprints forward, towards the UFO door and away from Rawisdan. Jeeber D—just behind Rawisdan—turns around, races away from the UFO, and dives behind a small shack. Rawisdan opens fire on Jeeber D, but the shots don’t make it through the shack. X-COM 2, Aliens 1.

But did I do damage to Ohio?

I was on vacation last week and just got back. I'm glad JeeberD made it. Is there an Anxiety III in the works? Maybe you need help in Spain still?

-Anxiety

[Blade6119]

Blade6119 would like to request the honor of attacking the enemy base sir! I know ill make you proud!

[tucker342]

tuckerII would also like to be on the base attack mission sir!

[Godzilla Blitz]

So far our response has been solid for the Spanish base assault.

Looks like we've got this to date:

1. Coffee Warlord II
2. Vince
3. Travis IV
4. Ardent Enthusiast
5. The Almighty
6. Mike Vic
7. Lokugh III
8. Anxiety III
9. Blade6119 IV
10. Tucker II
11. -
12. -
13. -
14. -

We still need four more people, so don't be shy. It's a good day to die.

Hoops Guy: I'll put you as first alternate for the moment, as you're in PSI training. To go on the base assault, I'd have to cancel your PSI training, which I'd rather not do.

Oh, and no apologies needed for your earlier comment on the number of agents on the last mission. Actually, I apologize for unclear writing on my reply to your question. I didn't mean to sound upset at all in my reply, but I can see how it would have come off that way. Your question didn't bother me at all. It's all good.

Alf:You'll be second alternate, for the same reasons as Hoops Guy, and because you've got a lot of experience.

Dawgfan: Sorry, I was probably vague on my posts, but we need volunteers from the people that are currently in the game. However, I'd be glad to add you to the waiting list if you'd like. Let me know.

Anxiety III: Actually, your post just got your guy off the waiting list and into guard duty, and your question about Spain gets you on that mission. My "slump" has us moving right through the waiting list. We can't get enough bodies.

3ric: Sorry about getting you killed again. It was stupid of me to bring Condors II up to the front line like that, knowing what his PSI defense was and all. 3ric V is on the waiting list.

[Poli]

AE II is already warming up in the bullpen.

[Blade6119]

for what?...no one would ever call on a softball player for a real man's job

Id be more then glad to take you on...any time...any place...are you man enough, or are you just afraid of what THE BLADE will do to your pretty little face?

[Qwikshot]

I'll go.

[Coffee Warlord]

Allow me to instruct the rookies under my command in base assault tactics 101.

Don't get shot.

Thank you. Sergeant CWII out.

[Poli]

Originally Posted by Blade6119

for what?...no one would ever call on a softball player for a real man's job

Id be more then glad to take you on...any time...any place...are you man enough, or are you just afraid of what THE BLADE will do to your pretty little face?

Die. I want to follow Blade6119 out of the SkyRanger.

[Blade6119]

Originally Posted by ardent enthusiast

Die. I want to follow Blade6119 out of the SkyRanger.

You will get your chance in spain, but i wouldnt go around telling everyone about how you like to be behind other men...just my advice...oh, and dont get shot up too badly on your first mission in siberia...i hear those other agents can be pretty unaccurate...maybe one of the leaders will realize they dont like you and shoot you...maybe Achilles or Wade Moore

[kingfc22]

I want in on the Spanish invasion if there is still room! This is a great opportunity to show our fearless commander, GB, that this rookie is not like the rest. Look out Mars, the King is coming.

[Coffee Warlord]

-- EU-COM Internal Memo --

From: Sgt Coffee Warlord II
To: Cmdr Kodos
Re: Ardent Enthusiast

Should I just order his execution now, and save the hassle before the Spain trip?

- CWII

PS: Have the cleaning staff save my locker space in EU-COM. I *will* be back, even if I'm flying back home with 13 corpses.

PPS: Especially if I'm flying back home with 13 corpses.

[Swaggs]

Swaggs is willing to step up and defend Spain, provided he gets to return to EU COM afterwards (God willing).

[Poli]

hater.

die.

[MrBug708]

I need some action, literally

[Dawgfan1980]

GB, please, I would love to be a part of this fine elimation of alien scum not named Kodos, even if it is just to draw fire from whomever.

Thanks

[Kodos]

Originally Posted by Coffee Warlord

-- EU-COM Internal Memo --

From: Sgt Coffee Warlord II
To: Cmdr Kodos
Re: Ardent Enthusiast

Should I just order his execution now, and save the hassle before the Spain trip?

- CWII

PS: Have the cleaning staff save my locker space in EU-COM. I *will* be back, even if I'm flying back home with 13 corpses.

PPS: Especially if I'm flying back home with 13 corpses.

Negative. The paperwork for AE's execution would take us several weeks. (Damned lawyers!) It is better to let him die naturally on the battlefield.

Affirmative on the locker. Good luck in Spain!

[Poli]

Originally Posted by Kodos

Negative. The paperwork for AE's execution would take us several weeks. (Damned lawyers!)

Yeah for democracy!

[Coffee Warlord]

No worries. That just means you are part of my special contingent during the base run, known as Operation Unarmed Spotter.

[BYU 14]

I am up for the Spanish Defense if there is room

[Coffee Warlord]

Defense?

DEFENSE!?!?

It's an ATTACK! We go off to kill things!

[Poli]

This can't be good. Godzilla hasn't posted the results of the last mission yet.

[Godzilla Blitz]

Here it is...

94th Mission: Siberian Snakes

The USA COM Skyranger comes up over Alaska and heads into Siberian airspace. The ten agents on board prepare for battle.

The USA COM’s Hovertank was out of ammo, so we’ve got our standard cannon tank with us today. However, Commander Wade Moore is outfitted with the first of our brand new Crappy Flying Suits. This armor not only allows our men to fly, but also is stronger than regular Crappy Armor.

We’ve got two rookies on board today: Ardent Enthusiast and Katon II. Give ‘em hell, men!

Our troops today:

Left Side:
1. Alf III (Blaster Launcher, Power Suit)
2. Airhog II (Heavy Plasma, Power Suit)
3. Wade Moore (Heavy Plasma, Flying Suit)
4. AStott (Heavy Plasma, Power Suit)
5. Jeeber D (Heavy Plasma, Power Suit)

Right Side:
1. Ardent Enthusiast (Heavy Plasma, Power Suit)
2. Achilles (Heavy Plasma, Power Suit)
3. Patman II (Heavy Plasma, Power Suit)
4. Sublime II (Heavy Plasma, Power Suit)
5. Katon II (Heavy Plasma, Power Suit)

The Skyranger drops quickly to the early morning pine forests of Siberia. The weak autumn sun throws long shadows across the cold landscape. We can make out the shape of the small, square UFO as we come down. It will lie about 10 meters to the left of our craft. The UFO exit door will line up with the nose of our Skyranger, so we’ll have to exit, then swing up towards the front of our craft to put pressure on the exit. To the right of our Skyranger, the forests of Siberia stretch as far as the eye can see. In front of our exit is a line of three lightly wooded hills. The area just beyond the nose of the Skyranger is secure ground. This should be a fast battle if we can get to the UFO exit efficiently.

The Skyranger drops the final few feet to the ground, then hits with a hard thud. The ramp falls away and cold air drifts into the Skyranger bay. Silence greets us.

Our tank heads out. Just as it reaches the edge of the ramp, it picks up a Snakeman, about 40 meters away, in the small valley between two hills in front of us. As our tank continues down the ramp, Ardent Enthusiast and Alf III race up to the edge of the Skyranger bay, drop to a knee, and open fire on the Snakeman. Plasma flies toward the creature. Ardent’s first shot drills the Snakeman in the torso, sending up a splash of purple gore. The Snakeman falls backward, dead! Wow! Now that is one impressive start to a career: logging a kill less than 30 seconds into your career with your very first shot. This man has come to fight. X-COM 1, Aliens 0.

Our tank reaches the bottom of the ramp, and spins to look for aliens: nothing. Patman II and Katon II exit the Skyranger and take up positions at the landing gear. Jeeber D and Sublime II exit and head towards the hills in front of us. AStott exits and makes a short dash to the side of the UFO. The rest of the men shuffle to the exit.

Katon and Patman scamper behind our tank. Once there, they all head up towards the nose of Skyranger. With luck we can turn the corner of the UFO and set up a firing position on the exit right away.

We hear the UFO door slide open. Something going in or something coming out? Humm. AStott preps a grenade and tosses it over the roof of the UFO to land in front of the door. Kablam! The grenade goes off, but we hear no screams. Must have been a Snakeman going in. Patman, Katon, and our tank close in on the UFO exit.

Suddenly, back in the field in front of our exit, Jeeber D comes under fire from a Snakeman sneaking through the small valley between the two leftmost hills. The plasma blast streaks towards him and…

Nails him in the chest plate! Jeeber’s world fades to black, but he stays on his feet. He pulls the trigger to return fire and sends a round of plasma tearing towards the Snakeman. Jeeber’s aim is true: he catches the Snakeman in the head with a shot that sends it spinning and howling to the ground. Nice reactions, Jeeber D! With so few aliens likely on this mission, we pull the stunned but otherwise ok Jeeber D back to the Skyranger and send Achilles out to replace him. X-COM 2, Aliens 0.

Our tank, Patman, and Katon get to the nose of our Skyranger, then turn and set up a firing position on the UFO exit. Wade Moore exits the Skyranger, uses the Flying Suit to get to the roof of the small one-story UFO, then works his way to a position right above the exit. He should be able to shoot down on anything that comes out the door. Nasty.

Back in the fields, AStott, Sublime, Achilles, and Airhog II start a sweep of the hills in front of our exit and woods to our right. Alf III waits in the Skyranger with the Blaster Launcher.


X-COM forces advance through Siberian forests. November, 2003. X-COM Archives Photo

At the UFO, our men wait for something to come out the door.

Things go very quiet over the next few minutes. Our men searching the hills and woods find nothing. The battlefield is now clear except for the interior of the UFO. But nothing comes out of the UFO. Eventually, we bring AStott and Achilles back towards the other side of the UFO, and send Airhog and Sublime back to the Skyranger. AStott and Achilles reach the far side and we all wait for things to develop. We’ve got Patman and Katon lined up behind our tank covering the door. Wade is on the roof above the door. AStott and Achilles are right around the far corner, ready to charge inside. This is a good position, so we’ll wait them out.

Ten minutes pass. Still nothing.


X-COM forces wait to ambush Snakemen trapped in a small scout UFO. November, 2003. X-COM Archives Photo

Finally, with a roar, Snakemen come pouring out of the UFO! Katon, Patman, and Wade open fire on full-auto. One after another the Snakemen fall as streams of plasma slam into them. Our tank—likely hit by a friendly plasma blast—goes up in a ball of flame. Within seconds it is over. Four Snakemen corpses lie in a smoldering heap in front of the UFO. Our threat sensors turn to green. It’s over. Well done, men.

Kills: Ardent Enthusiast, 1; Jeeber D, 1; Katon II, 1; Patman II, 2; Wade Moore, 1.
KIA: None.
Wounded: None.
Attribute Improvements: Ardent Enthusiast, Jeeber D, Katon II, Patman II, Wade Moore.
Final score: 143
Mission Notes:
Much better. The rust is falling off, perhaps.

Low and behold, a miracle has occurred. Jeeber D’s reaction ability went up! From the all-time low of 30, he jumped a full point to 31! Wow! Way to go, Jeeber D!

[Poli]

Thanks, GB!

Except it looks like I disappeared after the kill!

[Godzilla Blitz]

Update

November 11-13

XCOM Command begins planning for the assault on the Spanish alien base. A tentative date is set: November 22. It will take a few days to get our new guards through processing and then another few days to shuffle agents into EU COM, where we'll attack from.

In the meantime, the aliens keep coming. On early November 13, the EU COM Interceptor knocks down a Floater-manned UFO scout over France. By late afternoon the EU COM Skyranger is in the air, en route to attack. On board:

Kodos, Breeze, Naiwf, Tucker II, Chuck U Farley, Raven Hawk II, Real Deal III, Coffee Warlord II, Mike Vic, ShaefIllini.

Go get 'em, men!

Still aiming for a mission every two days for as long as I can, so this mission should go up on Wednesday.

[Godzilla Blitz]

Ardent: Well done! That was, I think, the fastest kill we've ever had in X-COM history. Less than 30 seconds into your first mission. The gods may be shining on you.

Qwikshot, Swaggs: You are both too valuable. Sorry, no go on the base assault.

BYU II, Kingfc: You're in. We'll be transferring you to EU COM for the assault shortly.

Mr. Bug: Officially, you've got too much experience, but we need two more people and you're not in PSI training at the moment. Off you go to EU COM for the assault.

Dawgfan: I'll add you to the waiting list. Welcome!

That gives us the following for the base assault team:

1. Coffee Warlord II
2. Vince
3. Travis IV
4. Ardent Enthusiast
5. The Almighty
6. Mike Vic
7. Lokugh III
8. Anxiety III
9. Blade6119 IV
10. Tucker II
11. Kingfc
12. Mr. Bug IV
13. BYU II
14. (I'll probably add Daimyo II or Data King III if we get no others shortly)

Also upcoming, I'm going to try and post new stats tomorrow.

[Coffee Warlord]

The gods save me from the day I become too valuable and become unable to bring down the fury on alien scum.

[JeeberD]

Woohoo! Now that I've finally broken the barrier and raised my reactions to 31 I betcha that 32 is just a couple of missions away!

[Swaggs]

Originally Posted by Godzilla Blitz

Qwikshot, Swaggs: You are both too valuable. Sorry, no go on the base assault.

I guess I cannot be too disappointed when you put it like that.

[kingfc22]

Bring on the scum of Spain!!! I'm so hyped for my first mission. I hope that I don't forget to take my safety off.

[Godzilla Blitz]

Kingfc: At the rate UFOs are showing up now, there will probably be a handful of missions before we can launch the Spanish base attack. It'll still be a bit of a wait.

Jeeber D: It's risky, though. Maybe next time I'll try parking you outside the UFO door. That's usually a relatively safe place to build up reaction time.

Swaggs: We don't have many agents that have the complete package, but you've got good skills, a good combat record, and great PSI defense. Much too valuable.

[Swaggs]

Go on...

[fantastic flying froggies]

I'm not quite sure where I am right now, but if on active duty, I would like to volunteer for the last open spot on the spanish base assault team.

[Breeze]

GB,

I thought you were using the reserves for the attack in Spain. If you need another Volenteer I'll do it.

Breeze

[NAIWF]

I'm glad to finally have recovered from my gruesome eye injury. I'm hoping the rust isn't too evident in this next mission