Let's Play: UFO Enemy Unknown

[vid20]

Personal log
Fury, CAPSLOCK FURY

thirteenth turn of the sun, firth page of the calendar.

Saw some serious active combat yesterday, the filthy scum lost one of there craft over Italy and I was part of the ground team sent to react to it. But we had only been in the air a short time when we heard that a second craft had been seen approaching; evidently intent on a terror mission. The bastards had bluffed us.

Maybe that is why I killed the way I did when I hit the ground. I have never been so infuriated in my life; those filthy bastards bluffed us. And i can't shake the feeling that maybe, just maybe; it has something to do with my premonitions last month. When will the war end? Are they getting smarter? God damn it. I will kill every single last one of them if I have to; by righteous burning plasma they shall know my name, they shall know and they shall fear.

I added three heads to my tally this mission. But whether it is three, or three hundred. Hell even three hundred thousand; I wont stop killing until they stop coming. Death is all they will find here.

On the staffing side of things more promotions went out today. Birras is now the head honcho. I can't disagree withe this decision. It was also great to see Shanks being promoted to colonel. I know he will do us all proud, although I'm going to miss having him stand shoulder to shoulder with me on the field. He gave us quite the motivational speech shortly after his inauguration as colonel, with some of the most sound advice offered since this war began.

"So, my advice before we touch down: Don't get shot.

don't worry Sir. I don't intend to.

The fury of caps, out.

 

[Higurashi]

+++
Journal Entry, May 13, 1999
Sgt. Simon "Higurashi" Nilsson, X-Com Alpha-Squad
---

It would seem the aliens are learning some tactical prowess; just as we departed in order to collect a downed alien craft, they send another. But this one was a terror craft, or so I was told, and has already caused devastating damage to the town of Lagos. They will pay. Of that there is no doubt within me or my men.
I was finally able to welcome Blingie to the staff of sergeants earlier this month. About time they recognised her performance. I am almost equally glad I have not risen in rank so far. Partially because I need and want to stay on the front-line, and partially because I can spend a lot more time with her now. Oh joy. Right, off to kick alien ass.

-Higs, the Crusader

+++

 

[GloatingSwine]

*** Classified: Above Top Secret ***
X-Com Command Staff Eyes Only

X-Com Battle Report: Terror Mission 4

We tried to stop this over the desert, but couldn't. We had to stop it here. AceDiamond rolled out the UCV and saw the UCV rock as a stun bomb burst against it's side plating. He turned and spotted the shooter on camera.

Centering it in the remote's crosshair he loosed a rocket, the alien died, and the wall behind it disintegrated.

Turning to scan the area he spotted one of the chitinous horrors.

As Bling Cat II disembarked to shoot it, she spotted another hiding around the corner of the building.

That one presented the greatest threat, so she turned and terminated it.

Company chaplain Preacher Saul sweeping the western side of the craft spotted yet another.

He and Higurashi opened fire and it crumpled, though small signs of life and movement indicated it may not be dead yet.

Meanwhile on the east, ANTX81 v1.0, the first fully artificially intelligent X-Com combat robot and Vanilla Gorilla had finished the third of the horrors off.

Knowing that the stunned alien would not be safe to approach, Higurashi primed a grenade and threw it next to the fallen creature.

Whilst a fourth of the monstrous things approached from the east.

And was shot by Bling Cat II.

The LZ finally somewhat clear, AceDiamond moved the UCV towards the road. He spotted an alien outside a building on the opposite side.

Looney lined up and shot it from the skyranger ramp.

Whilst AceDiamond advanced further, spotting another alien hiding behind the small store next to the squad.

Which he terminated with a well placed rocket.

Cyberoth II, following the UCV's advance, spotted a fifth nightmare creature in an alley across the road.

He saturated the alleyway with plasma fire, and killed the alien, inhuman screams from the far end told us that he had hit another alien behind it as well.

Spotting movement to the southwest, Bling Cat II and Preacher Saul converged on the alley south of the warehouse. Bling Cat II spotted an alien moving towards the door to kill the civilians inside. She fired at the alien and scored several hits, but it didn't go down. It's return fire was similarly ineffective.

Preacher Saul rounded the corner and killed the godless creature.

Meanwhile, out on the road, Cyberoth II spotted two aliens advancing from the east.

ANTX81 v1.0 flanked the two aliens from the south, firing a stun bomb at them. Though not directly on target, one of the aliens went down stunned.

Vanilla Gorilla supported the flanking with fire on the second alien, but could not score a hit. Armitage Shanks however, held up his new responsibility as a sniper and shot the alien, which sagged, blacked out from the pain.

Shots flashed in front of the squad from the east, and Cyberoth II spotted another alien at the mouth of an alley at the end of the road. Armitage Shanks, once again, opened fire and the alien fell.

Meanwhile across the road from the squad a civilian leaving his house was gunned down by a hidden alien. Higurashi and Combined rushed to engage the shooter, but both were shaken by the aliens' brutality and could not score a hit.

The blast of Combined's rocket alerted the alien, however, and it turned and fired back, this time the power armour failed, and Combined was killed instantly as searing plasma annihilated her torso.

Armitage Shanks, able to fire through the devastation the rocket had left, turned and killed the final alien.

Report Ends

----

Mission Debriefing, General McSwine

It is always hard to lose a comrade, especially one who has been with us since near the start of the X-Com project. The only thing I will say is that Combined died bravely and honourably, protecting the citizens of this planet from unwarranted aggression. She was an example to us all and will be missed.

Service in X-Com runs in the family, and Combined's brother, currently stationed at the South East Asia base will be joining us on the first personnel rotation from that facility to the main one.

----

OOC Note: I was expecting much worse here. The fact that most of the Chryssalids were near the skyranger and got killed by turn 2 was all that stopped this from being an utter bloodbath, with 16 civs on the level, it could have been zombie apocalypse time.

 

[Higurashi]

+++
Journal Entry 2, May 13, 1999
Sgt. Simon "Higurashi" Nilsson, X-Com Alpha-Squad
---

I can't stop shaking. The anger is consuming me. While we and the civilians were extremely lucky this mission, my aim was not, and neither was it anywhere near sufficient. To see Combined gunned down next to me... She was such a sweet woman... such a good soldier...
And I couldn't do squat! Fucking useless. I know, I need to stop wallowing in self-loathing, but this night calls for exactly that. Strength is not to never fall, but to get back up over and over again. I heard her brother is joining to avenge her. No doubt he'll be as furious, frustrated, distraught and, perhaps, sad as me. I might have to calm him down when I have done so myself. But for now, these tears will do as company.
Damn it, Combined...

-Higs, one who loves too much.


+++

 

[AceDiamond]

Personal Log
May 13, 1999
Maximilian "Ace" Diamond, X-Com: HWP Division

My hands are still shaking. Even though I was thousands of miles away the fierceness of battle hit home like the plasma bolt that cut down Combined. I know there was nothing I could have done, and I know it could have been a lot worse, especially with those...things that we've been calling Chrysalids based on data deciphered from some of the captured UFO logs. The fact that they were almost all at the Skyranger when we touched down worries me, almost like they were there with a purpose, but what?

For now I sit here waiting for the Skyranger to come back so I can oversee the repairs on Mongoose-1 (as I've taken to calling the tank since it cut its teeth on the Snakemen we've been fighting recently), and then I think I'm going to need a stiff drink. Combined was with us almost as long as I and the rest of the original soldiers to the program, but this time there is no Lazarus to bring her back. She died with courage and honor, something I only wish I could feel right now.

 

[preachersaul]

Company Chaplain's Personal Log.
May 13, 1999 Anno Domini.

I have just been introduced to my new flock. No lambs these, but lions. Upon first meeting them I was unsurprised to find them a tad apprehensive to find a man of God amongst them. I understand this reaction from a soldier. They are destroyers, widowmakers, extinguishers of that sacred thing we call life. To suddenly have a moral authority, a reminder of the inhumanity of their role must be.....a little unsettling. Some of them are showing signs of battle psychosis. Most however are currently out on a mission. It will be interesting to meet them as a whole.

+++

The mission team is back and we are heading out to meet the foe as soon as the Skyranger is refuelled. I will accompany them to Lagos to defend it's population from the Xeno menace. O Lord my Protector, make my defences strong.

+++

Audio excerpt from Preacher Saul's helmet microphone during the Battle of Lagos:

"Iesu Domine! Domine! Lava quod est sordium!"
Excerpt ends.

+++

The mission was......a success but at such a cost. The civillian casualties were declared moderate, at around 45% dead, missing or injured. These creatures, these beasts we battle are so full of malice and spite to attack the defenceless with such ferocity and venom. I was so enraged by this horrific disregard for life, by the fact that the extra-terrestrial aggressors do not even count our species as cattle. They disgust me. Tears of anguish rolled down my cheeks whilst battle was joined, and I have no shame in the taking of one of their lives.
They are a new Rahad, a sentient devoted to chaos and cruelty. They will burn. With our searing fury we shall purge their existence from the face of God's Earth.
I was also hurt by the necessity to perform the Funeral Rite to one of my flock on my first mission. A soldier named Combined. The others are not taking it well, as is to be expected. I have made it known that I am always availiable to offer God's Council should it be needed. Even lions need that.

 

[ANTX81]

Data log of ANTX81 v1.0

FIRST MISSION//SORTIE SUCESSFULL. CIVILIAN CASUALTIES >50%. THE TATICAL LOSS OF A IS NEGLIGABLE. UNIT MUST//WILL IMPROVE TO >ACCOMMODATECREW> OBSERVED TO BE SHOCKED//ANGRY//>APPALLED< BY XENOS FEROCITY//LOSS OF LIFE.
UNIT >BELEVESIMPROVED< PARAMETERS.

>status:
stuns:1
kills:0
allies lost:1
civilians lost:7
assist stun:1
assist kill:1
casualties:0
damage received: none

 

[HyruleanHyroe]

Personal Log
May 13, 1999
Captain Dalton "Doomsly" McSlaughter

I was really pissed that the head honchos haven't been using me. I was on the verge of a violent outburst. So I went to see this Saul guy the fellas have been talking about. And ya know what? He really helped out. I've always considered myself a God-fearing man, but I didn't know the solace that could be contrived from the presence of God. I've found a new patience. I know I can wait this out. They'll use me sooner or later, and when they do...well, if those alien bastards have souls, I sure do pray that God'll have no mercy at all on those F---S. He knows that I won't.

-Doomsly

 

[Dramatic Flare]

Pilot's Log
May 13th, 1999
Richard MacKinsey, X-Com Air Force

So I got me a bum leg. I'd not be here were it not for me bein' the best damn pilot this side of mars! And I hates it and I loves it all the same. I can never really fight- I just sits here in my plane- Skyranger they called it, ignoring me wantin' it be called flyin' dick after mesel'. Like I was thinkin' a double meanin' or some such.
Perhaps I was, but then I gets to sit here and hope no shots go through me window or floor while everyone else gets themselves a gun and a full suit of armor. I only gets me rabbits foot and me crucifix and whatever these prayers do me, not that I believe much in prayer. It's all religious bullshit.
Hell, the firin's stopped. I can see a coupla' ours standin' outside the plane rear hatch. This is a joyous day.
Well, time for a quick swig o' two before me flight. Screw regulatt-shuns, I needs me a drink.
Perhaps I can figure out a way to slip a new name past command wit' it.

 

[vid20]

<spoiler=preachersaul> dude... loved your intro. Keep it up.

Journal entry
fury, capslock fury. Yet every thing is gone.
thirteenth rotation of the moon, slipping into the fourteenth. Fifth turn of the calender, slipping out of my mind.

Combine, R.I.P. You know, you never forget what its like to lose a comrade on the field of battle. I wasn't even there when Combine fell and yet still I felt it in my soul, in every inch of my body. I can't stop sweating from my face, no, not sweating, crying. They got one of us.

Most of the soldiers who just left with the Ranger are taking it in turns to speak to Saul; he seems a calming presence in this conflict. I will go and give him my own confession when he is next free. I'm sure it will help to get a lot out of my mind and off my soul.

Higs seems really cut up about it. He is proficient at attaching himself to people; I respect the compassion and intimacy that he seems to posses for our entire unit of soldiers. Maybe one day he will be my brother in battle too, like it was when this all began.

Combine's brother is being transferred to our unit; I can't decide if this is a good thing or a bad thing. It makes me think about my own family. Maybe I should take some leave and go see them?

No. I can't show weakness while this war still wages. I must make them safe, before I make them close.

I hear the Chaplin now; maybe he really does have divine powers to sense his kin in need.

The fury of caps, out.

+++ Voice log +++
CF: Forgive me father, for I have sinned.
PS: Speak to me my child, and by the power the lord grants me you will be absolved.
CF: Father, I have murdered, I have hated, I have killed. I have stolen, I have lusted. I am greedy, I am...
PS: What is it my child?
CF: I am.. scared
PS: The lord gives us fear to remind us of the value of life.
CF: I want my life to hold value father. But I don't know how.
PS: You fight the good like my child. May I ask, what is your name, calling you Capslock fury makes me feel distant from you.
CF: You may call me David father.
PS: The slayer of goliath.
CF: What?
PS: You want value in your life my child?
CF: Yes father. Yes I do.
PS: Then the lord has given it to you already. You request and the lord does provide, he is a loving and compassionate god; he provides for his herd.
CF: What must I do for him father?
PS: You already do it David. Let me ask you David, do you love anyone?
CF:... yes.
PS: Is that why you fight?
CF: I'm... not sure anymore.
PS: Well make sure. Make your compassion your shield, and your affection your lance. On wings of love, faith, and purity; slay legion of our enemies. Slay them for your loved ones David, slay them for your friends and family. Slay them for those lost and alive. In the name of the lord and all his good will, make this world a safe place. By the power of the lord I absolve you of your sin. And by the power of the lord I tell you now, you need fear not the torments after life if you taketh away the lives of these foul abominations; slights against the image of our good lord.
CF: Thank you father. In the name of the lord may my plasma be heated, and aim be true.
PS: Amen.

+++ Log ends +++

 

[gamebrain89]

Personal Log May 13th, 1999
Jordan "Gamebrain89" McAllister, X-Com Sniper division

We lost Combined. We are all taking it pretty hard. I know its kind of callous to say this, but it could have been worse. they are all freaking lucky that they dropped those aliens right out of the Skyranger. I'm going to go talk to Looney and Root, maybe we can go hit the range, if the "officers" aren't too good to shoot with a grunt like me. Maybe they can tell me exactly what happened. I need to know.

 

[GloatingSwine]

*** CLASSIFIED: ABOVE TOP SECRET ***
X-Com Command Staff Eyes Only

Excerpt Personal Journal, General McSwine

Day 114, Recovery

After the assault on Lagos and the death of Combined, the aliens went quiet again. The downtime allowed the team to come to terms with the loss, the first we'd suffered in some time, and also to rotate personnel between the Europe and Asia facilities, allowing the Asia garrison some combat time and experience.

The science team have come a step closer to bringing us to parity with the invaders in the air as well. They have worked out all the principles of the aliens' ship construction, and will be beginning work on a flying prototype with the help of experimental test pilot ninjablu.

The lull is eventually broken by comms intercept.

----

X-Com Incident Report, 19th May

Another Muton crewed ship appears on a mission to infiltrate North American governments. Their transmissions are still low enough detail to conceal where exactly they plan to place or contact agents, but we can't allow them to succeed in order to trace their ground efforts.

The interceptors launch, and down the UFO over the northern US border.

Report Ends

----

X-Com Battle Report, UFO Crash Recovery 15

With no time to wait in case the crew disperse and continue their infiltration mission, the Skyranger sets down at night. No enemy fire greets AceDiamond as he exits, and the crew begin to disembark.

All at once, fire streaks in on the team from the west, plasma fire crackles down the edge of the barn next to the skyranger and a stun bomb sails out of the window. It was an ambush. Bling Cat II spots one of the shooters to the west and returns fire.

The alien takes a couple of hits but doesn't go down. She takes a deep breath and lines up on the Muton's head. This time it's luck runs out.

Meanwhile, Higurashi spots another muton creeping around on a roof to the north.

He opens fire, and the alien is bathed in searing plasma.

Seeking the alien with the stun launcher, Preacher Saul, Combined II, and Bling Cat II enter the barn to the west and take up positions inside the door. The alien runs down the stairs and all three open fire. It survives the stun bomb and plasma fire from Bling Cat II and Preacher Saul, but Combined II's rocket blasts it into unconsciousness.

Mortally wounded, it soon burns to death in the fires started by the rocket blast.

The team sweep the rest of the LZ and find it clear, so they make ready to enter the UFO.

ANTX81 entering the eastern breach spots an alien watching the door.

Cyberoth II takes advantage of the moment of surprise to rush the door and blast the alien.

Report Ends

----

Mission Debriefing, General McSwine

The aliens laid on a surprise party for us this time, fortunately the power suit offers significant protection against the concussive blast of stun bombs, so their hoped for advantage did not materialise. It would have been nice to have the unconscious alien taken for questioning, but I cannot reprimand the team for their actions given the recent loss of X-Com personnel*.

Additionally, whilst you were out in the field, a second UFO was intercepted heading for North America, however it was destroyed by interceptor fire with no wreckage to recover.

----

*OOC Note: I did actually try and move this alien, he was an Engineer, and we haven't caught one of them before, but the game bugged out, I got a human death scream and morale hit, then next turn the alien teleported back into the fire and burned to death. Might be because he was standing on a staircase when he got fragged.

 

[preachersaul]

Company Chaplain's Personal Log
May 15th 1999 Anno Domini

My Children have come to hear the Word. Many of them frustrated and angry, some even more so than I, by the heresies of our insidious foe. Dalton and David in particular seem to require more capable emotional and moral stimuli than their grog rations to mantain their spiritual well being. The flock are still mourning the loss of their comrade, though by now his soul surely resides with the Seraphim at the right hand of the Lord. Commander Birras spoke both movingly and well at the Rememberance Ceremony for Combined. Word has reached me that the brother of this noble warrior will soon join our ranks. He may find solace in the Teachings of the Divine and take refuge in his Message.
One of the flock however to be either both permanently and incredibly drunk or horrifically inarticulate. I suspect a combination of the two. And I cannot fault him. Our pilot, ninjablu, has reportedly ensured safe passage for our crusaders directly to the source of our pestilental nemesis with the utmost alacrity without failure or complaint. Long may the Lord preserve his skill, and grant his soul succour.

+++

May 19th 1999 Anno Domini

We ride again to war, and now we are the agressor. Upon wings of steel we fly. And all Hell could not withstand our fury.

+++

Recorded in the crew compartment of the Skyranger en-route to UFO crash site.
Company Chaplain's Battle Prayer.

"Our Father and Protector,
We ask you in this hour of peril,
to supplant us with Your courage that it may be our shield,
and Your might that it may be our sword,
to purge this cancerous enemy from thy Holy existence.
We ask that you watch over us this day,
so that we may smite your foes with Your divine wrath.
Domine Victor.
Amen."

Recording ends.

+++

Company Chaplain's Personal Log
Post Mission Debriefing

Alas but another paladin of the human cause fell to the infernal, thrice accursed Xenos gutterfilth. Rest in peace, Faceless Mook Number Twenty Eight, you will be sorely missed. May your eternal soul find its way to the tender arms of our Lord.
Victory is a scintillating reward though I will rejoice on the day we achieve it without a Hero of Earth having to take the Swan's Path.

Log ends.

 

[AceDiamond]

Personal Log
May 20th, 1999
Maximilian "Ace" Diamond, X-Com: HWP Division

Interesting stuff coming out of R&D these days. Ninjablu is excited that his time to shine is upcoming, given the research and construction being done on a new prototype interceptor craft. In a way I envy him getting a chance to do something that's never been done before, even though in some way all of us have been having those opportunities. Granted they've been in the face of some truly horrific battles but all the same, the amount of scientific advancement that's been made in the last 5 months, all in the name of saving humanity, has been astounding.

On another note I'm a bit wary of our Chaplain. Not saying I have anything wrong with religion, but he does seem a bit...intense in his rhetoric. Then again I think it's good for those who need a sort of spiritual guidance to be able to turn to someone who "kicks ass for the Lord" as that movie once put it.

Mongoose-1 still has yet to meet the same plasma-induced death its predecessors have, but I'm guessing by now it's just a matter of time and again my thoughts turn towards either regaining my piloting certifications or requesting training for field work. I know I've done neither of those since my piloting career was cut short last year just before X-Com was formed but...the leg's healed up and Power Armor could probably compensate anyway. Oh well, it's merely wishful thinking anyway. I know I've been out of the game for a while, hell my aim down on the range has only recently gotten back to the way it used to be.

Perhaps a bit of time in the simulator could do me good though...

 

[ANTX81]

Data log of ANTX81 v1.0

SECOND MISSION//SORTIE SUCESSFULL. XENO SPECIES DESIGNATED//IDENTIFIED AS >>MUTONCREWCELEBRATED< OVER UNIT?S OWN DESIGN//CREATION?

MORE STUDY//OBSERVATION IS REQUIRED//NECESSARY

>status:
stuns:1
kills:0
allies lost:1
civilians lost:7
assist stun:1
assist kill:1
casualties:0
damage received: none

 

[Schizzy]

Personal Log
============
Sgt. Konstantin "Schizzy" Sikorsky
May 20, 1999
==================================
Haven't logged in for a while. Constant alarms going off every 5 minutes does not facilitate writing logs.

Have noticed an overall depression fall amongst X-Com operatives since comrade Combined was killed by plasma fire. I, for one, understand the pain of losing a comrade. Many years of combat experience with the Russian Federation have seen many of my closest comrades die. But this is war. There is little time to grieve when there's an invasion to hold off.

For the first time since I've been transferred to X-Com, am I seeing the pilots within the hallways of the base. I suppose, they feel more at home in the air than on the ground, much like the Russian pilots back home. But, like Cpt Alexei Nikolavich, an old comrade and Mig-29 ace, used to say about having to land, "At the end of the day, Vodka grows on ground, not in sky."

Speaking of which, I've heard on the rumor mill that we'll be getting some of out own flying saucers soon. Hope they make 'em big enough for two tanks. Skyranger is tight like, as the Americans say, 'a sardine can'.

 

[GloatingSwine]

*** CLASSIFIED: ABOVE TOP SECRET ***
X-Com Command Staff Eyes Only


Excerpt Personal Journal, General McSwine

Day 140, Lull.

After we stopped the last intrusion, there was another break in the fighting. During this time, work was completed on the first interceptor based on alien technologies. This new interceptor, dubbed Firestorm, is twice as fast as the existing model, displays much greater acceleration, and is powered by Elerium. Manufacture of these craft will begin as soon as the new workshop facility is brought online, giving sufficient workspace to assemble the fighting craft.

The gravity control techniques mastered in the design and construction of the Firestorm also allowed us to replicate the Sectoids' floating UCVs.

These new weapons mark a significant increase in survivability and speed over the existing models, and production has started on an initial run for deployment.

We have also completed investigation into the aliens' elerium boosted hand grenade. This is a more powerful explosive than the frag grenades currently in use, and siezed munitions been deployed to all combat personnel from stores.

----

X-Com Incident Report, 28th May

At the end of May, the aliens tried once again to assault a civilian target.

With no diversionary attack this time, Interceptors were available to shoot the alien craft down. Both interceptors launched from Europe, and the alien craft was met over the Mediterranean

The interceptors followed over southern italy and downed the intruder.

Report Ends

----

X-Com Battle Report, UFO Crash Recovery 16

Once again we are fighting at night. Heavy resistance is expected due to the aggressive nature of the mission these aliens were on, but we've faced worse before. AceDiamond's new UCVs haven't arrived from manufacture yet, so he is still controlling the old one. He drives it out of the Skyranger and spots two aliens to the east, a Floater and a Reaper.

Cyberoth II disembarked and shot the Floater dead.

Higurashi did the same to the Reaper.

The squad continued to disembark and throw flares for illumination. Light fire came from the southwest, probably from the barn in that direction, and then a Floater was illuminated to the north.

Kevvers, one of the snipers on the first rotation from the Asia facility, took the shot and killed the alien.

AceDiamond moved along the battlezone to the west looking for an opening to move the UCV closer to the UFO, he didn't find one, but he did spot a Reaper.

He lined up and let fly with a rocket, and the reaper went down.

Meanwhile, Cyberoth II advancing to the east came under enemy fire from the darkness. He threw out a flare to illuminate the shooter floating over an orchard to his east.

Combined II lined up a rocket and blasted it out of the sky.

Whilst to the north of him, ANTX81 had spotted a Reaper in the gloom.

Higurashi advanced and let the beast have it.

Investigating the source of fire at the start of the mission, Bling Cat II cautiously looked up the staircase of the southwestern barn, sure enough an alien was waiting at the top of the stairs. Surprised, it never stood a chance.

Whilst another of the aliens running from the corpse of the Reaper downed by Higurashi was spotted by ANTX81 and blasted with a stun bomb.

The squad advanced on the UFO, as they did a Floater mounted a counterattack at the eastern door, it came under fire from Higurashi and ANTX81 and died without getting a shot off. A Reaper followed it out of the door.

Higurashi raked it with plasma fire, but it stayed standing. Valiance eventually put a shot through it's foul head and killed it.

Penetrating the interior of the UFO, yet another reaper was spotted.

The scout that spotted it opened fire and wounded the creature, and Cyberoth II flanked it from the east and killed it.

Wary of the ambush points reported in the last UFO of this type, the squad kept their eyes on the ceiling as they entered the main body of the vessel. This caution paid off, as Valiance spotted a Floater waiting there in ambush.

He was able to thread a shot through the firing hole and kill the alien. More shots and alien screams from the upper floor of the vessel indicated that the crew were panicking.

Moving up to the second floor, Higurashi entered the room at the rear of the UFO and reported what seemed to by a hypnotic sensory assault emanating from a strange item in the middle of the room, and reflecting from the walls.

He was snapped out of the trancelike state this device induced by shots from behind him as one of the bridge crew collected itself long enough to fire at the approaching scout.

He ran up to the bridge corridor and opened fire, killing the alien that had fired.

All of a sudden, another alien rounded the corner of the bridge and returned fire, hitting Higurashi in the gut and wounding him severely. Cyberoth II rushed over and administered first aid, but the wound was extremely serious. The scout chased the alien round the corner onto the bridge itself and dispatched it.

Report Ends

----

Mission Debriefing, General McSwine

Once again we have prevented the alien menace from striking at a civilian population, and once again they have reminded us of the dangers of combating them, especially in the tight confines of their vessels. The first field use of the medikit has been a success, but not all we could have hoped for, Higurashi will be out of action for a significant period of time*.

----

* OOC Note, wound recovery depends on how many hitpoints the soldier lost. Higurashi lost quite a lot and the medikit couldn't restore many as he only took 1 fatal wound, so he'll be in sickbay a long time, many of the squad wouldn't have survived that hit at all.

 

[Higurashi]

Ouch. Guess it was about time. Yeah, Higs is completely out of it now, so a post on thoughts will have to wait. Good thing I'm built tough. O_O

 

[Kevvers]

Personal log: Kevin "Kevvers" Everton

Things are starting to hot up in the battle against the Xeno-menace. I've been assigned to the main base. The training was over, no more learning all I could about the alien menace, practising with the new equipment. Just as I was getting used to idea of alien invasion, I get the word. I'm needed in the field. And it was a nasty one. I managed to pick one off, and but they got on one of us. A veteran, Higs, a real tough guy, managed to pull through despite some nasty plasma burns to the gut. I'd heard of him back in Asia on the early mission reports they gave to the rookies. "Don't worry" the Training Officer had said, "you're probably safer out there in that armour with those weapons than staying in your conventional unit." Funny how those words aren't really comforting any more.

 

[gamebrain89]

Personal Log May 28th, 1999
Jordan "Gamebrain89" McAllister, X-Com Sniper Division

Tried to go see Higs after I heard he took a pretty serious hit, but the docs won't let me in. Alot of the guys were hanging around, waiting to hear what his condition was. He got pretty messed up. After about 10 minutes a Doctor came out and told us he was in pretty bad shape, but he was stable, and is going to be out of the action for the better part of two months. Higs is gonna be PISSED when he wakes up. Gotta admit, he is one tough sonofabitch. That wound probably would have killed any of the rest of us. I pity the dumb aliens when Higs gets back on his feet.