My rookies are getting owned!

Hello all,

Been a while since I played UFO and im kinda gettin' my butt kicked.

A month into the game and sectoids are using big guns against my rookies!
Last mission I managed to grab some alloy and a plasma rifle but i havnt had time to research it.

The situation report.

Sarge, got takin out 2 steps off the ramp. a nice morale boost followed.
Rookie #1 turns and caps the baddie with auto shot and takes him down.
Rookie #2 loots the corpse but doesnt make it back, he takes a blast in the back.
Rookie #3 likes to play scout and runs out, two stray plasma blast get some crew inside.

After mending everyone. checking equipment one last time getting ready to dismbark. I have 6 rookies left so I figure im good to kill some sectoids.

Leaving the plane and positioning my crew and ending my turn.
Scout #1 breaks toward the crash, rookie's 2&3 run cover, while the other 3 secure the area.

Soon after the enemy is in range, 2 rookies die outta no where. reaction fire??
scout 1 takes one in the chest and lives! but my only med packs were with the rookies who just died.

Next round my scout dies from wounds.


Now for my problem, I had to save it... dont ask :dead:
I cant beat the mission with only 3 rookies with rifles!! I've tried many many many many times.

Should I just start over? Or should I go uber stealth and killem all in 85 turns? Or maybe just pick up that heavy plasma thats sitting on my ramp and take off calling it a failure?

Help! Thankies


-Kbz