X-Com's Finest (An X-Com 2 play through)

Operation Death Tower

The Commander sat in front of his team talking looking over the holographic map of the mission. While he described the mission, he inconspicuously watched the new recruits. There were several new faces, all rookies, but the Commander took what he could in this war. They would have to do.

"We'll be hitting the ground here. Over here is the target. Campbell, Halberson, Watt, and Van Dyke – you're up!"

"Birdbones" stood up excitedly before the Commander figured out what was going on.

"No, not you, the OTHER Van Dyke."

"But they're all rookies!"

"When I ask you for your input, you may give it! Is THAT UNDERSTOOD Van Dyke?"

Two voices cried out, "Sir Yes Sir!" The commandeer just shook his head.

"The Skyranger leaves in 10 minutes, now MOVE!"

***

OPERATION DEATH TOWER
Goal: Protect the Transmitter
Roster:
Campbell: Rookie
Halberson: Rookie
Watt: Rookie
Van Dyke (W): Rookie

The Skyranger rumbled towards its destination, the rookies looking at each other hesitantly until finally Campbell spoke up,

"Why did they call this mission Death Tower anyway? While there may be Death running around, there are CERTAINLY not any towers around here. I mean, did you see the map? There are definitely no TOWERS in the area, They could have called it Death Home, Death Suburbs, or oh, I KNOW! DEATH COMM!"

She looked around, and was about to comment further when the Skyranger began its quick descent towards the edge of town. A voice chirped over the speaker system, "We are down in 10..9...8..."

The rookies quickly unstrapped and grabbed their rifles, ready as the Skyranger came to an abrupt halt. As soon as the ramp was lowered, the team sprinted out, taking position at the nearest cover as the Skyranger quickly rocketed back into the sky.

As they were taking stock, they heard laser-fire several buildings over, and Command chirped into their ears, "The transmitter is taking fire, you need to get in there and secure it – NOW!"

Van Dyke looked around the team for just a second muttering under his breath before yelling out, "You heard the man, MOVE!" The team quickly and quietly headed towards the sounds of gunfire and shortly thereafter spotted the first pair of aliens doing their rounds. Killian and Van Dyke moved towards the center while Halberson and Campbell slinked over to the far side in a flanking position. Van Dyke looked around, making sure everyone was prepared, then pulled the pin on his grenade tossing it right between the two aliens who looked at each other with surprised expressions.

A PROPER ambush this time

The explosion sent one alien to the next phase of existence through a fine red mist, while the other had just enough time to duck and avoided the lethality of the blast. He hobbled over to a nearby car where he hoped to take cover. Unfortunately for the alien, the team was expecting that move and the X-COM team members opened fire on the hobbling alien. Had this been a crack team of X-COM elites, the alien would be joining his friend though that fine red mist. But he was lucky – temporarily – as all three missed. Van Dyke simply rolled his eyes and pulled out his rifle.

The commotion attracted the attention of another 2 aliens north of the current engagement, a grunt and a sectoid, and the aliens began flanking Van Dyke and Killian. But first things first. Campbell looked down the barrel of her gun at the poor alien she has flanked. It doesn't even SEE her as she unloads on it. Just before she fires, she sneezes and the shots go wide, alerting the alien to its predicament. Halberson, who'd been watching the whole thing shouts out as she rushes to a nearby car, standing nearly right in front of the wounded. "ARE YOU KIDDING ME? What do you want him to do, come SWALLOW your gun?" The alien turned just in time for Halberson to unload a barrage of pain into its stomach where it flopped around momentarily before going still. Van Dyke joined her shortly thereafter and huddled down watching for the new pair to come into view. Killian hears the aliens heading their way and retreats to where Van Dyke just vacated, preparing himself as well.