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

Operation Dying Mask

Pritchett was the first to speak up, "That thing took some hits."

Zalewski responded, "But we took it down. But what I really want to know....if this Snake-King was only worthy of doing rounds outside this place...what the SNOT do they have in the interior!"

Pubentz finished spraying the spray of pain killer on the Ranger and responded, "Not sure – but you hear that noise? I think we're about to find out. Over the train and let's go."

The squad realized there HAD been some irregular metallic noises coming from the factory area. They weren't exactly thrilled about the opportunity, but they didn't have a choice. They restocked ammo, and slipped over the side of the train – trying to ignore the human shaped containment devices they passed on the way over.

As the squad slipped over the side of the train they spotted the source of the irregular sounds. A large mechanoid device was flanked by a pair of alien lancers. As the squad was spotted, all parties dove for cover.

Pubentz shouted out, "METAL FIRST!"

And Pritchett obeyed. Even if metal objects weren't quite as fun as flesh and blood – it was still shooting something and her shot rang true pinging the metal monstrosity. Gunner Van Dyke stepped out of cover and began unloading her chain gun on the thing – stripping off entire metal plates as she did so. It was enough damage that her brother pulled out a grenade and landed it right on top of the thing, blowing it into as many metal scraps. The team realized they didn't have enough to take out both lancers, so Zalewski and Pubentz went into defensive mode. Pubentz didn't have a good shot on anybody, so she simply went into overwatch. If anyone moved, she'd have an angle. Zalewski went ahead and sent Bastion over to Gunner Van Dyke who had moved into the open to take her shot. Bastion hovered over her for a second as her gun was cooling down. She looked up and barely had time to recognize the potential danger she was in before Bastion started screeching again. Smoke started emanating from the thing, and everyone thought it was going to blow up. Instead, it emanated a smoke/fog substance that prevented anyone from seeing anything inside of the cloud. Gunner had a defensive position this time around.

The lancers weren't impressed. The first lancer, clear on the other side of the battle, decided that Pritchett was an easier target. All the humans had to be terminated, so the order didn't really matter. He marked her from across the battlefield before hittting her from across the map sending her to the ground, her arm busted up pretty bad. The other lancer began sprinting right at her as well but Pubentz, having just seen what happened was having none of that and sent another electric bolt straight into its chest. It went down in a single shot where it danced in convulsions.

Ranger Van Dyke was still pretty irritated at the situation and simply ran straight at the lancer. They weren't the only ones with meele weapons and that alien received a first hand account of what happens when you mess around with ionic axes.

It wasn't pretty.

Pubentz sent her GREMLIN to take a look at Pritchett while the rest of the squad reviewed their options. The way was mostly clear into the factory except a turret on the roof. A turret?!?

Everyone sort of just stayed out of the way as Pritchett began taking pot shots at it from afar. It didn't do....well, anything and Pritchett eventually took it out. She felt a little better in the process.

So the entrance to the factory was clear. Nobody else seemed to want to come greet the team, and there were two entrances to the factory. They could take one or both at the same time. Zalewski started setting his defenses at the eastern door as the rest of the team was pushing for the western door.