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

Operation Iron Mask

As the grunt hit the ground the group quieted, listening for further action and heard nothing immediate. The Captain chimed in. "We don't have all day ladies, let's MOVE! The area is getting hot, and we need the package!" Svangerko smirked over at Robertson who was dusting himself off, "You hear that Mr. brains? Apparently now you're a package! Should we get you gift wrapped? A pretty red bow in your hair maybe?"

Again, the earpieces chimed with the Captain's voice, "Enough chatter! MOVE!"

"Saved by the Captain..."

The company quickly hit street level and began cautiously heading towards the evacuation zone (EZ). Robertson, who had figured that the coast was clear, ran out towards the building ahead of everyone else. Zalewski looked around incredulously, "Seriously?!?" Svagerko smirked. "He must want to get himself killed, I can help him along." Zalewski shot back, "I think he just wanted away from you!" Before anyone could protest, she jumped into action, "Don't worry – I got him..."

She quickly jogged out into the courtyard just as a another Sectoid / grunt combo was spotted coming out the doors. The aliens panicked, the grunt running to the far side of the courtyard hiding behind a fountain, while the sectoid jumped to the near side hiding behind a large alien statue.

Zalewski was having none of it. He dashed up to the side of a building where he hunkered down, pulled a grenade and tossed it at the grunt. The grunt / grenade debate was proven to be a one-sided decision once again as the grunt, a nearby plant, and the large statue were destroyed in a fiery explosion. Not to be outdone, Svagerko pulled out the squad's last grenade. Just as she was about to pull the pin, she noted she had a very clear shot at the Sectoid. With cover gone, she had a chance of taking it out all by herself with a good shot. The grenade wouldn't kill it, but would take out any remaining cover. The probability of someone finishing it off were pretty good. Which odds were better? All of this went through her mind in a brief second as she pulled the pin and tossed the grenade.

As was getting regular, the grenade landed, destroying the fountain the Sectoid had been using as cover and sending it back against the wall. It was definitely woozy as it tried to get up. Pritchett, in her secure position in the outer courtyard took the shot with the expectation that the alien would be getting up. It didn't and she missed. Van Dyke simply aimed for the gut and was rewarded with a head shot instead.

Again there was quiet. Four aliens were dead, and the aliens had yet to fire a shot. On the flip side, all the explosions had caused multiple fires to start throughout the alien complex and another wall collapsed as the squad watched.

Van Dyke looked around, "While I REALLY like the fireworks, it's really time to go!"

Svagerko wasted no time running through the courtyard when she heard the chirping of another pair of aliens. She caught glimpses of them jumping down to the second floor from the roof on the far side. "Hold the horses boss! We have more slimies that wanna play!" She dashed back to the opposite side and took cover behind some crates in the middle of the courtyard. Van Dyke, Zalewski, and Pritchett took cover and waited for movement.

The doctor sat in his spot towards the back, lowering his head, covering his ears, and hoping he'd make it across the street.

It didn't take long before an alien was seen moving within the building across the courtyard. Svagerko cringed over her headset as she heard almost simultaneously, "GET HIM!" "I SEE HIM!" "TAKE THAT YOU SON OF A RABID SWAMP RAT!" followed by a barrage of gunfire.

Apparently the alien was not harmed by insults. Bullets were needed to do the job and the job was not completed.

The aliens took position behind the last piece of remaining cover in the courtyard as another piece of wall crumbled on the near side next to where Van Dyke and Zalewski were taking cover. Nobody had a good shot and Van Dyke looked around. "I've got an idea." Zalewski looked at her doubtfully, "Is it a good one?" Van Dyke looked back hesitantly, "I'll tell you when I'm done"

She looked at the alien, stepped back away from the window, took a deep breath, then jumped through the window crashing to the floor. Zalewski watched fascinated as the alien tracked Van Dyke through the building firing all the way while pieces of burning building fell all around her. At the last second Van Dyke dove to the ground avoiding yet another barrage of laser fire and jammed her shoulder. She peered up at the alien through the window. It was a perfect shot. All she needed to do was hit and she'd be the hero. Unfortunately, her shoulder wouldn't cooperate and the shots went wide, destroying the wall behind it.

The other alien, having heard a bit of racket, jumped out of the window next to the alien commander Van Dyke had been targetting and ran into the now burning main building. Apparently sitting in a burning fiery inferno was going to camouflage it.

Van Dyke, hurting badly, decided that valor was better obtained if you were alive and wisely beets a hasty retreat. The alien commander was having none of that and began firing at the retreating marine. It was a difficult shot to say the least. The alien shot into a wall, shot a collapsing staircase, and then another wall as Van Dyke darted from window to window. As she made her way to the far side, there was only one thing in her way, yet another closed window. Rather than spending the precious seconds to actually find the mechanism to unlock the window, Van Dyke took another breath and jumped right through it.

In relative safety, she quickly pulled out her pain-be-gone spray and sprayed her shoulder – where it began feeling better instantly. It would do for now.

The comm silence was broken when Zalewski asked in an innocent voice, "So, was it a good idea?"

The response was short and terse. "Shut it."

Zalewski had followed Van Dyke into the burning building and had a perfect shot at the idiotic alien standing in the inferno house. The irony was lost on him, but the shot was good and Zalewski followed through putting the grunt out of its misery. It was going to burn to death in there. The marines were nothing if not merciful.

The alien Commander, realizing it was flanked, jumped to get itself into better position. Pritchett was having none of that, spraying it with gunfire prior to it jumping into the far building where its partner had just departed with the help of Zalewski. It did reappear though. And when it did, Pritchett finished it off with a beautiful shot silencing the babbling thing forever.

The scientist looked around, the fire further engulfing the administrative building.

"And this is what you do to get across the street? What do you have to do to win the war?"

Zalewski responded while climbing the outside wall to the second level patio, "I figure we'll end up having to obliterate a continent," and after a short pause, "or two."

Shortly thereafter, the squad was being raised into the Skyranger by ropes not much worse for wear.

***

As they returned to base, Van Dyke was immediately examined, and was forced to take some time off for the shoulder to heal. "Nothing serious they said", but an order was an order. It wasn't serious enough though that she couldn't make the debriefing.

The rookies did well for themselves, and Cap was ready to hand out promotions.

Svagerko was promoted to Squaddie and asked to join the Rangers. Her and Van Dyke (W) could go try and decapitate each other. They were both happy.

The Captain looked at Van Dyke (A) and only shook his head. "The only thing I can think of with you is to match what I gave your sister. Go to the armory and familiarize yourself with your new weapon." Van Dyke looked slightly out of sorts.

Pritchett was easy. After that last shot against the alien commander, the Sniper rifle had her name all over it. Shots like that were a sign of natural ability.

And that left Zalewski. "Here you go Zalewski. We found this thing some time ago and never put it together. Make yourself useful and go see what you can do with it." Zalewski looked down with an eager expression and rushed out of the room like a kid at Christmas. It'd be a few days before they saw him again....

Dr. Robertson was a huge asset. He doubled the scientists on board, and would cut research time by a solid amount. Not a bad find.