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

Operation Hellborn Vagabond

Svagerko went about her paces, cutting, slicing, and piercing with her practice sword. The well-orchestrated clackity clack of the sword against her opponent would have ended the life of any alien, had the sword been real, and the dummy been a real opponent. She took a breather. The Ranger made it look a lot easier than it actually was. Again, she would never tell him that to his face.

"Whatcha doing?"

Savegerko jumped guiltily at the intrusion and looked towards the doorway. Savegrko stood there, arms folded, with a sly smile on her face. Seeing she had Svagerkos's attention, she stalked into the training room.. "Ya know Svagerko, I'm no expert, but from what little I know of swordsplay" she paused as she ran her hand across the length of Svagerko's sword, "that little display looked like the training of a combat ranger." Halverson looked down at her feet, then back up at Svagerko innocently. "You wouldn't be switching disciplines now there would you?"

Svagerko turned and stood up to Halverson. "Do you know how many times I used stealth in the simulation? How much I was 'useful' there? Next to none! On the last mission, when we were supposed to be stealthful? Yeah? Useless! I REFUSE to be a second-rate ranger!" Svagerko pulled out her sword and twirled it in a stunning display of swordmanship.

Halverson just smiled. "Oh, the Commander is going to be so pissed." She smiled a sly, cunning way. "I can't wait till it's discovered." Halverson confidently walked out of the training room, relishing in the contempt pouring out of the ranger.

***

"Our informant tells us there's an ADVENT commander that has the details on one of the resistance camps. The resistance camp needs to be saved. In order for that to happen, that ADVENT commander needs to be eliminated. You'll return with the informant, an engineer who will be helping Shen."

Gill had long stopped paying attention, finding more fascination with a strand of Pugh's hair in front of her. She kept picking at it, trying to put it back into place. Pugh, feeling like a bug was in her hair, kept shaking it, sending it back into a tangled mess where Gill would have to start all over again.

Upon hearing there would be a visitor, she perked up.

"Kitty?"

Everyone looked over at the hopeful expression on Gill's face. Nobody had the gall to tell her no.

"Uh, sure Gill, this might be Kitty."

Gill hopped up and down "KITTY!"

The squad slowly made their way out for insertion.

***

The Ranger looked over the balcony. The squad was in position and ready. Zalewski already had his weapon trained on an enemy. Even the blasted metal companion of his was quiet at the moment.

The enemy? Not so much. They sat in a nice little formation chattering away about who know's what. The mere sound of them grated his nerves. Making sure the squad was in place, the Ranger took aim at the slimy sectoid and fired. The shot found its mark and sent the rest of the enemy scrambling for cover. It didn't help much. Half of the enemy died before making it to cover. Before the enemy figured out what direction the fire was coming from, the survivors were put down. The Ranger nodded in satisfaction. That's the way it should always work.

The quiet was short-lived.

A shot rang out of the dark. Zalewski, who was just climbing down from the balcony, dropped to the ground with an unpleasant thud. The Ranger looked into the darkness, and not seeing anything motioned to Campbell. Campbell, sniper rifle in hand, and the Ranger quickly slipped forward to find the offender.