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

Operation Unceasing Terror

The squad looked at him in somewhat disbelief and confusion. DIBS? Zalewski spoke up, "What?!? You have no idea what you're doing!"

"Oh, like YOU do!?!?"

Bastion screeched in a loud and long protest. Nobody could tell if that was on purpose or coincidence.

"Point made. I'm getting the Skulljack. I mean, what do you have to do, slide it into the datapord in the back of their head, and VOILA!"

Zalewski tried to speak, but was simply too flabbergasted.

It was at this point, Ranger Van Dyke noticed the shiny new Bolt-Caster that Pugh was sporting.

"Oh, you have GOT to be kidding me! Not only do I have to babysit the rookie.."

"I am NOT a rookie! I am a Squaddie!"

"Whatever, but now I have to worry about being shot in the back by an accidental electric discharge?!?"
The Commander finally butted in. "Pugh is going on the mission. Her munitions are based on squad members, so shut it. As to the Skulljack, we really don't know how well it works, and what's required, so Ranger, you can keep it for now."

The Ranger stepped up and grabbed the Skulljack, right in front of Zalewski. With a smirk and knowing stagger, he sauntered past the squad to get suited up. The rest of the squad simply looked on with disbelief.

As he walked off, the Commander spoke up, "Well, what are you waiting for? You debark in 10!"

As the rest of the squad headed towards the Skyranger, Gunner Van Dyke slipped back to talk to Dr. Tygan. "Out of curiosity, now that you have the Skyjack completed, what's next to work on?"

The Doctor looked at the Gunner thoughtfully before responding, "With our research completed on the Vipers, we can upgrade the capability of our med packs. With our medpacks upgraded...

"No."

The scientist looked back. "Excuse me?"

"I said no. Don't you have anything we can do to upgrade our weapons? We need to be able to kill something here."

Dr. Tygan thought for a minute. "I guess I COULD upgrade our ammo or grenades here. With our research on..."

"Yes."

Tygan was even more confused. "Yes what?"

"Do it." Gunner turned and left the room leaving a completely confused Dr. Tygan in her wake.

***

OPERATION: UNCEASING TERROR
Pugh – Squaddie Support
Gunner Van Dyke – Lt Van Dyke Gunner
Ranger Van Dyke – Lt Van Dyke Combat Ranger
Zalewski – Sergeant Combat Hacker
Halverson – Squaddie Sniper

The Skyranger dropped the squad off and left with its usual haste. The squad was once again left to their own devices. Their mission was relatively easy, hack an enemy terminal inside an ADVENT train. They'd done this before, so they really weren't expecting much.

Ranger Van Dyke shouldered his way past Pugh who was shouldering her temporary weapon, "Don't screw this one up Squaddie. I don't want to have to explain how the Squaddie lost the team's best weapon." The rest of the team just glared at him as he marched out into the middle of the street.

As the team drifted to their defensive positions, Zalewski, spotted a viper / grunt pair along-side an average office building. Zalewski thought he was being 'sneaky'. He wasn't. The pair darted for what cover there was in the middle of the street. It was no use. Gunner Van Dyke expertly placed a grenade directly between the two, killing the grunt and destroying the viper's cover. As the Viper hissed at her, Halverson pulled out her pistol and fired, sending the thing to its knees. Ranger Van Dyke simply waited for the thing to return to a better position.