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

Operation Dying Mask

This mech, however wasn't put down in the single round, and the squad watched helplessly as the mech bent down, leaned over, and fired a grenade from over its shoulder. It was almost slow motion as the grenade landed on the console that Pubentz, Pritchett, and Ranger Van Dyke were taking cover behind. The blast sent all three in different directions – shrapnel penetrating armor and ripping into the trio, leaving them bleeding, out of breath, and very much stunned. Fortunately, there wasn't much left to do at this point and Gunner Van Dyke and Zalewski quickly took it out.

As the sparks winded down in the ruined mech, only the light sound of the swooshing and draining of goo from the revolving ferris wheel of body containers. It was in stark contrast to the sound of warfare that permeated the room just minutes before.

Gunner kept watch while Pubentz fixed up herself and the Ranger. She then went and looked at Pritchett who was bleeding from several wounds – none of them serious. As she looked at them, she just shook her head, "Sorry, I can't do anything right now. I can't give you another dose – it won't do anything. We'll have to get you back to the Avenger." Pritchett just nodded, not knowing that Pubentz simply didn't have any meds left.

Zalewski examined the wreckage of the mechs, looking for anything useful. Pubentz was fixing people. The Ranger was waiting patiently for his turn and Pritchett was seeing what she could do for her own wounds. That left Gunner Van Dyke to look around. "I guess I'll go look at the glowy thingie huh?" she asked nobody in particular.

Nobody paid her any attention as she made her way over. Inside a clear container was a glowy liquid of some type. The entire facility seemed to revolve around this particular container. It must be important, somehow... While she reviewed the container, the rest of the team made their way over to the side door. Ready for a hasty retreat.

Pubentz looked over to Gunner.... "Ready?"

Gunner nodded and grabbed the container waiting for the entire facility to collapse or something like she'd seen in the moves – when they still had movies. "I've got it, time to go people!"

But it was too late, alarms began to blare indicating reinforcements were on the way. Van Dyke sighed. THIS is what she had been expecting. Pritchett, more than anyone, was more than happy to leave this particular mission. She studied the distances and sadly shook her head, they wouldn't make it before the reinforcements arrived. It was time to get in defensive position one more time.

As the team scattered into positions, a dropship came along and dropped another mech, an officer, and a grunt into the back of the complex. Pritchett was sick of this place and immediately went after the mech hitting it extremely hard. Ranger Van Dyke followed up on the attack and brought it quickly to the ground. Pubentz, in her calm and collected manner, lined up and assassinated the officer with a single shot. Gunner Van Dyke targeted the grunt, but missed as Zalewski came running past her screaming and holding a grenade. He tossed it at the grunt sending the alien to its desired resting place across the battle field. In pieces.

The squad saw another incoming dropship in the distance and they all ran to the waiting Skyranger. Just as the aliens were dropping to the ground, the squad latched onto the waiting ropes and the Skyranger roared off safely into the distance.

***

The Commander sat brooding staring at his plate. His food had long gone cold and it was even less appetizing cold than it was hot. Squaddie Pugh had been passing with her tray of slop when she noted the Commander seemingly in another world. Without knowing standard protocol, she plopped down across from him and began eating. After a minute of silence, she finally stopped eating long enough to look at the Commander, "Penny for your thoughts Commander?"

The Commander didn't even acknowledge her and she asked again between a mouthful of mashed potatoes. "Commander?"

The Commander finally recognized that someone was speaking to him and looked over at the Squaddie, happily chewing away on her potatoes. He looked down at his own and pushed it away. "We've got problems..." there was a pause as he wracked his brain for her name, and finally settled on her rank, "Squaddie, and I'm not sure what to do about it. The aliens are moving faster than we can counter. We are needing to hit tougher and tougher targets, and we're not able to keep up with our experience, facilities, and weaponry. Eventually something is going to give and it's not going to be pretty for us." Pugh listened to this conversation having moved on from her potatoes to what she thought was chicken.

"Just look at sick bay, we actually had to commandeer one of the barrack rooms as a med bay overflow. We don't have enough people to even field a full team, and I'm expecting a retaliation any minute now that I'm not sure we'll be able to counter."

Pugh looked thoughtful as she finished up her 'chicken' and wiped her mouth on the back of her sleeve. "I'm ready and waiting Commander! I know you'll think of something. Just let me at em and we'll win this whole war!"

The Commander did his best not to roll his eyes. Naivety and positivity were two attributes that were in short supply at the moment. No need to ruin it for her before it was time.... "Sure thing Pugh, sure thing...."