XCAS Mission De-Briefs

[Loonie]

<<And so it begins. Once more into the breach my friends........well......kindof a breach anyway since I don't consider my GMing to be at exactly the highest standard in this case. >>

 

Date: April 24th 2067 <<June 29th 2003>>

 

Mission codename: Chink in Armour

 

Pre-mission intelligence and preparations:

 

Thanks to the recently awoken Osiris Sectoid extracted from the mission Station Investigation, X-Com had recieved much useful information about the Alien operations in the Arkunis system. The data was in fact sufficient to allow X-Com to formulate an incursion plan into Alien held space, which would hopefully succeed in removing them from the Arkunis system once and for all.

 

About 500.000 km away from Arkunis VI a single small moon orbits the planet, also containing a minimal atmosphere. It covers a relatively small, but nonetheless specific, part of the space around Arkunis VI, meaning that should the facility be destroyed the Ascadian forces would have a big enough gap to pass through a contingent of their fleet, which would later hopefully be able to take the Alien fleet around Arkunis VI by surprise and subsequently manage to defeat it.

 

However though it would be possible to simply destroy the facility, as it was unprotected by UFOs, using the Avenger's on-board weapons, the Aliens would obviously be aware of the facility's destruction and would of course assume that X-Com would be making an incursion through that area of space. Therefore it is of primary importance that the facility was not destroyed, but continued to operate and report in regularly to the Alien HQ on Arkunis VI. The Osiris agent would be the only one capable of preforming that task, since persuading the Aliens at the facility would be practically impossible.

 

X-Com was therefore issued a special cloaking utility installed on the Avenger by the Blue Skulls, an experimental version which would hopefully work. The Avenger was to land on the planet's surface and the X-Com team would proceed towards the outpost. Once there they would eliminate all resistance, where it was vitally important that the Aliens never had a chance to signal back to their HQ on Arkunis VI that they are under attack. Once that is done the Osiris Sectoid was to remain at the facility and regularly check in with the Alien HQ that the listening post is not detecting anything. The X-Com troops would in the meantime preform a sweep of the area and camp out on the moon's surface using the Mars Survival Kits. They were to remain there observing that all goes well as the Ascadian fleet gradually passes through the sensor gap. Since the gap was to be rather small it was estimated that a total of 2 days would be needed for the fleet to pass completely through. After that time X-Com would pack up and board the Avenger craft in order to accompany the fleet into Alien space.

 

Since this was such an important operation Lieutenants Schmerjchanikov and Kacur had decided to take along every last X-Com soldier, leaving NAO in the hands of the Ascadians for the time being. The expected resistance was primarily in Floaters and Cyberdisks who would be the most efficient in traversing the low-G enviroment of the moon, though a few Sectoids would also be on site. X-Com was to be issued Plasma Rifles to replace standard X-Com Rifles, though ammunition would be sparse in the future missions as the possibility of resupply was eliminated. Scientists, Engineers and also Scouts were also to be issued Laser Pistols for the first time, as they had not been produced in large enough numbers for the entire team. The moon's surface was also just then going through a meteor shower which would aid the team in their mission

 

Combat report:

 

As the Avenger approached the predesignated landing site on the moon everything was going according to plan until the cloaking utility began to falter. Fortunately enough the pilot was capable of landing the craft quickly enough and thereby get below the Alien sensor arrays' scanning range. The majority of the X-Com force then stayed near the Avenger to guard its perimiter in the case of something going awry and sent a squad over to seize control of the Alien outpost.

 

After about 3 kilometres the squad encountered two Floaters and a Cyberdisk who were heading in their direction to investigate a fallen meteor that had just crashed about a kilometre behind the X-Com squad. Lieutenant Kacur ordered the squad to split up, he himself leading his own Blue Team from Alpha Squad to the left and having Sergeant Yorke take the second team to the right in the hopes of avoiding the Alien patrol and also in order to proceed towards the Alien outpost more safely. However the patrol did uncover the team's tracks and one of the Floaters followed them towards Sergeant Yorke's team and the team would have to quietly eliminate him.

 

Meanwhile Blue Team had arrived at the Alien outpost which was in the center of a large crater, with patrols going along its rims and searching the area. There were four buildings consisting the outpost and using another meteor impact as a diversion the team created a dust cloud as well to cover their descent towards the facility. Once they had arrived they began to search the buildings to see which one of them was the communications building. Soon enough they had encountered it and preformed an assault to eliminate any resistance. However in the middle of the attack one of the Sectoids managed to send a transmittion to Arkunis VI. Blue Team managed to tweak the transmittion so as to make it appear that the base had only technical difficulties and then cut off contact with the Alien HQ (this would later on apparently turn out that it had worked, though just).

 

In the meantime though Sergeant Yorke's team had managed to dispose of the Floater, though somewhat messily, and began to make its way towards the outpost. However just as they arrived Blue Team began storming the communications building, which sent the base into general alert. They had found themselves seriously outnumbered even with assistance from Blue Team. Fortunately though X-Com was now able to call on the assistance of the Avenger and after about 10 minutes of fighting the outpost was secured and later on also the entire moon, allowing the first step of the operation to proceed.

 

Statistics:

 

X-Com personnel present:

-Lieutenant Martin Kacur

-Sergeant Ned Yorke

-Sergeant Kevin Ong

-Sergeant Samuel Howardson

-Corporal Daniel Jackson

-Corporal Andy Necro

 

Enemy casualties:

-3 Sectoid engineers (confirmed killed)

-3 Sectoid leaders (confirmed killed)

-20 Floater soldiers (confirmed killed)

-5 Cyberdisks (confirmed destroyed)

 

Friendly casualties:

-1 X-Com soldier lightly injured (Samuel Howardson: a plasma injury at his lower left leg)

 

Recovered technology: none

 

Promotions: none

 

<<OH YAY! We Got to the second page of our ever XCAS debriefs WOOHOO!!! >>

[Loonie]

<<Started out quite fine and went on relatively well too all the way until the most MOST confusing end. Heh,... >>

 

Date: April 27th 2067 <<July 6th 2003>>

 

Mission codename: Alien Titan

 

Pre-mission intelligence and preparations:

 

Over the last two days the Ascadian Fleet had begun to converge onto the Alien forces around Arkunis VI. The odds looked more or less even, until a major factor appeared, which X-Com was assigned to take care of.

 

The Osiris Sectoid had briefed X-Com intelligence about it before departure from NAO. A single mothership class Alien vessel which had less fighter protection weaponry in exchange for a cloaking device. This enabled it to decimate practically any opponent short of an Apocalypse Dreadnought. However in return its protection against fighters was limited, giving X-Com a chance to board the vessel.

 

X-Com was to engage the enemy and assist the Ascadians until this mothership appeared. They would then immediately head towards it and would hopefully be able to avoid its defenses long enough to attach their ship to it. Once that was accomplished the X-Com troopers were to disembark and split up into two groups. The larger one would head towards the main command centre, but since it was known for a fact that a vessel of such magnitude had X-Com severely outmanned and outgunned, that force was to act as a diversion, doing its best to attract attention as much as possible and hold out. The other group would in the meantime take advantage of that and would head over to the main reactor core and plant an array of C-6 charges, which would hopefully be sufficient to destroy the vessel. Both groups would then retreat back to the Avenger and escape the mothership.

 

The Osiris Sectoid would guide the second group to the main reactor chamber. Plasma Rifles were still to be used along with Laser Pistols and even an example of a Fusion Pistol (though it would not survive the conflict intact). Also Vacc suits were to be worn in case of a hull breach.

 

Combat report:

 

Upon arriving at the battle the X-Com Avenger, piloted by Private Scott, began to assist the Ascadians in a fighter skirmish where it managed to divert some fire coming from the Alien UFOs and even managed to destroy one of them. As soon as the mothership appeared it changed course towards it and apart from a UFO pursuit, which was quickly destroyed by an Ascadian Valkyrie, the process of boarding the mothership went well. Once the X-Com forces were on board the vessel they split up heading into two different directions. Lieutenants Schmerjchanikov and Kacur were to lead the second group whilst Senior Sergeant Yorke would take the remainder of the troops towards the bridge area.

 

After splitting up, group two soon encountered an Ethereal and a Muton which were blocking their path. After they were taken care of it seemed that a Sectopod came up from behind the team and soon opened fire on them. The team rushed forwards into a chamber area, where the doors were not wide enough for the Sectopod to continue. The X-Com team was apparently in a chamber which was used by the Aliens to breed Arachnomortuses which could be used in ship boardings. After a short walk through the chamber the eggs inside it began to open and out of them many Arachnomortuses crawled out and began attacking the team. After a short while, and one paralysed soldier, they managed to escape the chamber onwards, with Corporal Necro torching it using his incideary rounds.

 

The team then went on whilst leaving Corporals Chung and Jackson behind on an intersection so that Corporal Chung could provide Corporal Jackson with limited medical care. The rest of the team went on and soon reached the reactor chamber, clearing it without any major incident. Just then however screams were heard from the communications channel from Corporal Chung, who had gone into panic. The team quickly returned to the two soldiers, leaving behind the Osiris Sectoid to rig the C-6 charges around the reactor.

 

When they arrived at the team several soldiers restrained Chung and checked the corridor at the intersection that led towards the bridge area. Alien forces began their assault through that corridor soon after and the X-Com team was finding it hard to hold out, though it was necessary since if the intersection was not held then the Osiris Sectoid would not have his escape route clear.

 

After several mind-control incidents and a long firefight (during which it should be noted that Private Scott also mismanaged his Fusion Pistol, which could've potentially caused serious harm to the X-Com team) the Osiris Sectoid completed his job and the team immediately retreated back towards the Avenger. The first group had already managed to egress back to the craft in the meantime and was awaiting the second. But just before entering the Avenger a Sectopod was awaiting the second team and opened fire on it, in response to which Private Scott threw an unauthorized grenade towards the Alien. As a result a hull breach was caused from whose effects the team managed to rescue itself into the Avenger except for Corporal Necro and Lieutenant Kacur. However thanks to Sergeant Ong's help the two managed to climb aboard the Avenger, which then departed, leaving behind the mothership which was later completely destroyed as a result of its reactor going hypercritical.

 

Statistics:

 

X-Com personnel present:

-Lieutenant Dimitri Schmerjchanikov

-Lieutenant Martin Kacur

-Sergeant Kevin Ong

-Corporal Daniel Jackson

-Corporal Ki-tat Chung

-Corporal Andy Necro

-Private Joseph Scott

 

Enemy casualties:

-4 Sectoid engineers (confirmed killed)

-16 Arachnomortuses (confirmed killed)

-6 Muton soldiers (confirmed killed)

-1 Ethereal leader (confirmed killed)

-2 Sectopods (confirmed destroyed)

 

Friendly casualties:

 

-1 X-Com soldier heavily injured (Daniel Jackson: injection of a paralytic poison from an Arachnomortus causing gradual tetraplegia - paralysis of all limbs)

 

Recovered technology: none

 

Promotions: none

 

<<And that's part two. Join in for part three in the somewhat plain saga that has spawned from my not-up-to-things brain >>

[Loonie]

<<I noticed that I actually for the first time in XCAS history forgot to de-brief. Well, not surprising considering what I was going through the last week I didn't even give it a shred of thought. Anyway here it is now. The last of the.....well....not best but something that would like to be best >>

 

Date: April 29th 2067 <<July 13th 2003>>

 

Mission codename: The Beginning and the End

 

Pre-mission intelligence and preparations:

 

After a long battle the Alien fleet had finnaly been defeated by the Ascadian fleet, due to the successfull "Alien Titan" mission preformed by X-Com. Some of the Ascadian capital ships pursued the escaping Alien vessels, but most remained in orbit of Arkunis VI, from where they would launch the last attack together with X-Com to destroy the Alien base on the surface.

 

A plan was drawn up by the two X-Com Lieutenants and the Ascadian Generals through which it would be possible to destroy the Aliens' power system which was harnessed by the Alien AA defenses. Once the power to the defenses was cut Ascadian bombers could easily level the entire base completely. However X-Com proposed that whilst that is executed a squad of their soldiers would at the same time covertly paradrop into the base with the mission of capturing any high-ranking Alien in the base they could find, since the opportunity was simply too great to ignore. Once they would have collected some prisoners the power could be cut, allowing a breif period of time for the X-Com Avenger to extract the squad and the prisoners just before the bombers would ingress and level the base.

 

The plan was set. X-Com was to be equipped with the best technology they could muster, including heavier armour for most soldiers along with plasma and laser weaponry, though plasma clips were in short supply as a result of rapid fire during the last two missions.

 

Combat report:

 

A squad of eight soldiers was paradropped from the Avenger guncraft over the Alien base just as the main attack was half-way towards reaching its objective of cutting off the power. The AA batteries did not detect the soldiers because of their size and they managed to descend onto the base. However just before touching down the team encountered a Sectoid and two Muton guards, who quickly spotted Corporal Jackson who was quite noisy as he had to fight off a flock of birds that had just got entangled into his parachute. Before they could react Corporal Jackson's parachute wires were torn up and he fell on top of the Sectoid, killing him with the impact. The rest of the team landed shortly after that and also managed to dispose of the other two Mutons quite quickly.

 

The X-Com squad then oriented itself towards the nearest building with the least activity according to Private Scott's motion tracker and headed towards it. There they discovered a large room with cylinder-like pillars spread throughout it along with a lift room in the middle that would take them to the lower levels of the base. But as they began moving towards the lifts an Alien squad entered on the opposite side of the room, but did not fire immediately. Then apparently they initiated a Psi-Panic attack towards Corporal Jackson who went beserk and fired off several shots in random directions. Apparently that activated the cylinder objects to reveal themselves to actually be sentry turrets and as a result of the gunfire they began targeting all entities within the room, Human and Alien. The X-Com team barely managed to make their way towards the lift area where they locked themselves inside it before proceeding down to the lower level.

 

Upon descending they came accross two pathways. Lieutenant Schmerjchanikov took Private Scott to stealthily investigate the right passageway whilst Lieutenant Kacur took the rest of the team towards the left corridor. Kacur's team came across an Alien Med-Lab apparently where they successfully took a Sectoid Medic and Navigator as prisoners. They also found the bodies of Privates McBenneth and McCarhty who were by that time apparently carried over to the room by the Aliens after they had died in combat with the main group. The team moved onwards however and soon came upon the Alien Command Centre.

 

Meanwhile Lieutenant Schmerjchanikov and Private Scott came across a large storage area of some kind and were trying to determine the location of the Command Centre when they noticed two Muton soldiers carrying Private McBurke, who was captured during the main assault. The two X-Com Scouts decided they would rescue the Private and ambushed the Mutons, but during this ambush Lieutenant Schmerjchanikov accidentally killed Private McBurke using his stun rod. The ambush also alerted the Aliens who began to flush the two of them towards the left entrance to the large room in which they were in. That entrance fortunately also led to the Command Centre however.

 

When all of the X-Com squad was assembled in front of the Command Centre they invaded it and managed to capture an Ethereal Leader in the process. They then quickly retreated as by that time the power was already destroyed by the main force. They arrived back to the courtyard in which they had landed and were forced to fight off a Muton squad as they boarded the Avenger which extracted them. The Ascadian bombers then ingressed and devastated the Alien base completely, thereby ending all significant Alien presence in the Arkunis system.

 

Statistics:

 

X-Com personnel present:

-Lieutenant Dimitri Schmerjchanikov

-Lieutenant Martin Kacur

-Sergeant Ned Yorke

-Corporal Daniel Jackson

-Corporal Robert Paul <<Derrick Ko a.k.a. DragonHawk>>

-Private Anne Rallwell <<Derrick Ko a.k.a. DragonHawk>>

-Private Joseph Scott

-Private Terra Fleche

 

Enemy casualties:

-1 Sectoid soldier (confirmed killed)

-1 Sectoid medic (confirmed killed)

-4 Snakemen soldiers (confirmed killed)

-6 Muton soldiers (4 confirmed killed, 2 unconfirmed killed)

-1 Ethereal leader (confirmed killed)

-1 Ethereal commander (confirmed killed)

 

Friendly casualties:

-2 X-Com soldiers with medium injuries (Daniel Jackson: a broken left leg which then also suffered from a Plasma Rifle shot, slight mental panic of lobsters attacking him after the mission was concluded; Anne Rallwell: a Plasma Pistol shot which managed to burn away a portion of her chest and cause shock.)

-1 X-Com soldier lightly injured (Joseph Scott: a hit on the head from Lieutenant Kacur which was necessary so as to bring him under control.)

 

Recovered technology:

-1 Sectoid medic

-1 Sectoid navigator

-1 Ethereal leader

 

Promotions: none

 

<<Actually.....the more I think about it I have the feeling I DID post a debrief about the previous mission once. To everyone! Make sure you save the posts you make on a notepad file or something in case your post misteriously vanishes. Bob had the same thing happen to him I think. These boards must be a bit screwy. >>

[Loonie]

<<And finnaly the last sim, where X-Com hast encountered a new enemy...read on...>>

 

Date: May 1st 2067 <<July 20th 2003>>

 

Mission codename: The Clean-Out

 

Pre-mission intelligence and preparations:

 

After the destruction of the Arkunis VI Alien base, reclamation efforts began going underway so that the utmost would be recycled from the site. Ascadian leadership also believed that, since X-Com could have information that the Ascadians didn't, they would also observe this process to determine any important artefacts that the Ascadian military could miss.

 

Therefore a task force of the few X-Com soldiers that were elligeble for active duty was assembled under the leadership of Lieutenants Schmerjchanikov and Kacur. The equipment and armour of the team would be of the lightest of nature since the only possible hostile force at the site could've been local fauna.

 

Combat report:

 

The X-Com squad was departing NAO in the Avenger and had just managed to reach the stratosphere of Arkunis IV when they recieved a distress signal coming from NAO. The Ascadian crews there reported being attacked by an unknown force just before the transmission was cut. This persuaded the two Lieutenants to turn the Avenger back to NAO so as to investigate this anomaly.

 

Upon arrival the hangar was inactive and the Avenger had to land on a grassy plateau a bit away from the base. The team then moved towards the two entrances to investigate. Lieutenant Schmerjchanikov took a team to check the base through the secondary entrance at the Hangar whilst Lieutenant Kacur headed with the other half of the squad through the primary entrance.

 

The group entering through the primary entrance managed to access the blast doors using the Lieutenant's access card and began to move inside. The base's power was apparently shut off along with its security system and after a short search the team encountered several strange anomalies in the form of aerial distorsions. At first it was unknown what this exactly was, but soon enough one of these distorsions uncloaked itself to reveal an alien being which attacked Corporal Jackson. After a short fight the creature was thwarted away with no serious injuries. Lieutenant Kacur then ordered the team to quickly move to the Laboratory section so that the team could defend itself more effectively. Upon arrival they immediately suffered more attacks from the creatures, who apparently had cloaking abilities and favoured close combat, and managed to take them out, though not without injuries. Lieutenant Kacur also managed to restore power and the security system back to NAO using the labs' computer system. After that the team proceeded towards the Living Quarters, killing even more aliens as they went.

 

Meanwhile Lieutenant Schmerjchanikov's team successfully entered through the hangar entrance and began investigating the Hangar area along with the General Stores. Soon enough they came across an alien contact in the stores area and after a quick battle managed to take it down. Having cleared the two areas they decided to go around to the Security Station and then towards the Command Centre. After several problems passing through the automated defenses they arrived at the Command Centre. Checking out the Communications Room they came upon 7 Ascadian survivors, who had apparently taken refuge their. Private Scott then detected movement in the Reactor Room and the team rushed towards it to immediately check the anomaly out. Upon arrival they managed to also take down one of the creatures, just when the other team had joined them in the room. The base was more or less cleared, with further patrols still ordered after the incident so as to insure that all of the aliens had been taken care of.

 

Statistics:

 

X-Com personnel present:

-Lieutenant Dimitri Schmerjchanikov (Derrick Ko a.k.a. DragonHawk)

-Lieutenant Martin Kacur

-Sergeant Ned Yorke

-Corporal Daniel Jackson

-Corporal Andy Necro

-Private Joseph Scott

-Private Terra Fleche

-Private Atzel Evander

 

Enemy casualties:

-8 unknown aliens (confirmed killed)

 

Friendly casualties:

-1 X-Com soldier heavily injured (Daniel Jackson: internal bleeding and a severe concussion to the head)

-2 X-Com soldiers with medium injuries (Terra Fleche: supreficial torso wound; Andy Necro: supreficial leg injury)

 

Recovered technology: none

 

Promotions: none

[Loonie]

<<Heh, after being bugged by Ghost and Jacko to get this done I am forced to concede. Read on. >>

 

Date: May 16th 2067 <<July 27th 2003>>

 

Mission codename: Rescuing Alpha Soldier

 

Pre-mission intelligence and preparations:

 

At approximately 1400 hours GGT Corporal Jackson recieved a transmission from the UGS Patton, which was returning back to NAO at that moment. At first it requested a daily status report but after that another signal came in from the Patton which interrupted the first, this one coming directly from Cu'rag'us, leader of the Red Skulls. He had reported the Patton to be under attack from unknown forces and requested immediate assistance as the White Eagle was in danger along with Commander Wiendhoven and Colonel Cyriacus. This was even more so since one of the Red Skull members' thermonuclear device was activated and could not have been properly deactivated.

 

Lieutenants Schmerjchanikov and Kacur immediately responded by readying and launcing a team within 10 minutes time of recieving the distress call on board the X-Com Avenger and headed towards the coordinates of the transmission. The team was to be equipped with the standard weapons and armour setting, with the primary objectives being clearing out any hostiles in the area and also disarming the thermonuclear device, thereby saving the Patton.

 

Combat report:

 

*NOTE: MOST OF THIS REPORT IS CONSTRUCTED FROM THE LIVE VIDEO FEEDS ON BOARD THE SOLDIERS' ARMOUR AS THEY WERE TRANSMITTED BACK TO NAO FOR RECORDING

 

As the Avenger approached the Patton it had apparently suffered damage as a result of a ship-to-ship battle. Numerous ejection pods were launching and reattaching themselves to the Patton, which was most likely a novel way for anyone on board to avoid any hostiles. Indeed as the Avenger arrived to one such dock one of the pods arrived directly at it soon afterwards, carrying the White Eagle on board. Shortly after that as the team assisted him as much as they could, Cu'rag'us made his way towards the X-Com team with his Red Skulls and informed them of the situation. Apparently the bomb was attached to the primary fuel coil in the engineering section and could not be removed. The only hope for the team was to deactivate it using the proper Ascadian algorithms. Both the Commander and the Colonel's whereabouts were also unknown, though Commander Weindhoven was last sighted in the armoury section. The enemy also apparently had the ability to morph into inanimate objects and then re-morph into their normal selves again at their behest. The Red Skull team then departed using an E'Colous transport which had just arrived to assist them and would evacuate the White Eagle and also attempt to rescue their own squadmates that were still captured onboard the Patton.

 

The X-Com team however decided to split up so as to cover the ship more effectively. Lieutenant Kacur would lead his team towards the back of the Patton towards the armoury section and hopefully find the Commander somewhere near there. He would then head into the engineering section and await for Lieutenant Schmerjchanikov, who would search the front of the ship for the Ascadian de-activation algorithms. He and his team would then make their way from the front all the way to the back at the engineering section where they would assist in defusing the bomb.

 

Right at the time that they split up they already came across one of the morphed opponents which delayed them considerably before dissapearing somehow. However the team did split up after that accordingly.

 

Lieutenant Kacur's team first entered the mess hall from where, after a brief insubordination incident with Private Scott, they proceeded towards the armoury section. Upon arriving they examined it and found the Commander in an open duct, wounded somewhat and unconscious. The team administered medical aid to him in order to stabilise him and bring him back to consciousness and after accomplishing that carried him along to the engineering section, where they would examine the bomb. But on their way there they were attacked by another morphing opponent which was however defeated and discovered to be of the API faction. The Commander then regained his strength enough to walk and operate normally and informed the team that the Colonel had been captured and also said that the technology that the API was using was apparently called 'Nephilim' - a morphing/cloaking ability. Regardless the team proceeded forwards to the engineering section.

 

Meanwhile Lieutenant Schmerjchanikov's team was shortly after proceeding towards the bridge area assaulted by another API hostile which they did manage however to take down quickly. After arriving to the bridge they found the de-activation algorithms for the bomb and sent Senior Sergeant Yorke to Lieutenant Kacur's team so that he could give them over to them. They then continued investigating the ship and whilst doing so were also attacked by two more hostiles, both of which were however defeated. After that Lieutenant Kacur signalled in that the Colonel was not onboard the Patton and requested the team's presence in the engineering section.

 

After recieving the data pad containing the de-activation algorithms from Senior Sergeant Yorke the team went to work of defusing the device where the Commander managed to succeed. However after that the entire team was ambushed by several API troops and were taken prisoner through the use of some very unorthodox technology. The video feeds indicate it to be strange water with cement like properties whilst the Ascadians APIs themselves somehow skated on top of it. What is relatively certain though is that the X-Com team had been captured as the last transmissions show the API holding stun rods over the team who was captured somehow in the water.

 

Statistics:

 

X-Com personnel present:

-Commander Richter Weindhoven

-Lieutenant Dimitri Schmerjchanikov

-Lieutenant Martin Kacur

-Senior Sergeant Ned Yorke

-Sergeant Kevin Ong

-Private Joseph Scott

-Private Terra Fleche

-Private Atzel Evander

 

Enemy casualties:

-4 API Soldiers (confirmed killed)

 

Friendly casualties:

-8 X-Com soldiers captured

 

Recovered technology: none

 

Promotions: none

 

<<YAY! I GOT TO POST MOUSES CHARACTER AS PRESENT!!! >>

[Loonie]

<<And here is....the escape! What else?! Duh! >>

 

Date: May 18th 2067 <<August 3rd 2003>>

 

Mission codename: None

 

Pre-mission intelligence and preparations:

 

The team of soldiers was apparently being tortured in one of the API's facilities which harbored a special psionic dream device which granted any wish to any of the X-Com soldiers. This would continue until the soldiers would be violently torn from this pleasure and tortured. Obviously the X-Com team's mission was to somehow escape from this prison.

 

Combat report:

 

In the middle of one of these sessions the facility apparently came under attack. Later it would become obvious that Black Spear had mounted the attack against API and this gave the X-Com crew the chance to escape and subdue their two jailkeepers. They were all accounted for except for Colonel Cyriacus who was apparently held in another segment of the base. After the team had escaped they headed out of the prison section towards the armoury so as to retrieve some weapons. However the armoury was locked down and the team decided to head towards the laboratory section instead, where their weapons would much more likely reside. Whilst retrieving their weapons a team of 3 Black Spear soldiers also came into the lab and a battle ensued where the three were quickly dispatched. X-Com them armed themselves with the weapons and armour and after doing so headed out towards the hangar area.

 

Upon entering it the X-Com team came upon some opposition from the API, but managed to deal with it relatively quickly before proceeding out of the hangar area and spotting a Black Spear ship, most likely the one that was used by the organization to mount this assault onto the API. In any event X-Com quickly retreated towards it and managed to operate it to safely escape the API installation. After the escape the pilot on board was able to determine the location where they were and successfully flew the craft back to NAO.

 

Statistics:

 

X-Com personnel present:

-Commander Richter Weindhoven

-Lieutenant Dimitri Schmerjchanikov

-Lieutenant Martin Kacur

-Sergeant Ned Yorke

-Sergeant Kevin Ong

-Corporal Daniel Jackson

-Private Roel Ilyuschenko

-Private Joseph Scott

-Private Terra Fleche

-Private Atzel Evander <<NPC>>

 

Enemy casualties:

-4 API soldiers (confirmed killed)

-3 Black Spear soldiers (confirmed killed)

 

Friendly casualties:

-1 X-Com soldier heavily injured (Atzel Evander: severe surgical incisions made by the API and frequent electroshocks which have left her severely weakened. Recommend at least one weeks rehabilitation.)

-2 X-Com soldiers injured (Daniel Jackson: broken right organic leg; Joseph Scott: fusion blast injury at his left leg)

-1 X-Com soldier captured (Colonel Brad Cyriacus)

 

Recovered technology:

-API data disks

-Nephilim suit

 

Promotions:

 

-Private Joseph Scott promoted to the rank of Corporal for extraordinary bravery in the line of fire.

 

-Private Terra Fleche promoted to the rank of Corporal for excellent service to X-Com as a combat medic.

 

<<And there it is. >>

[Loonie]

<<Well, this week's mission was labeled as one thing and turned out to be quite something else, also with the first ever mechanical X-Com unit deployed ......and subsequently also destroyed . Read on. >>

 

Date: May 26th 2067 <<August 10th 2003>>

 

Mission codename: Sniffing the Foul

 

Pre-mission intelligence and preparations:

 

Preliminary data about the API, that was forwarded by the Commander, revealed to X-Com that the API had managed to establish a base covertly on Arkunis IV on the other side of the planet than the one where NAO was located and on desert terrain. The GPS sattelites therefore began scanning the rough coordinates, that the Commander had provided, and after a few hours it had detected several patterns that indicated a camouflaged base in that region.

 

A scouting mission was therefore immediately in order. A team was to head out towards that area so as to investigate it and hopefully pinpoint the bases location. Once found they were to accumulate as much info as they possibly could about it including everything, from Ascadian personnel stationed there to vehicles and equipment, and then report back to base. All personnel would therefore posses Basic Suits except for Lieutenant Kacur who would lead the mission. Armaments and weapons were also to be of the lightest nature. The first of the experimental Heavy Weapons Platforms would also accompany the team, but would not be used in the mission itself. Rather it would be tested near the Avenger by personnel for rough field results, thereby saving the engineering teams the time they would need to recreate desert terrains at NAO.

 

Combat report:

 

After a low approach by the Avenger towards the base, which included it heading through a desert canyon so as to avoid any detection, the team was deployed some 5 kilometres away from the base. Upon deployment the Lieutenant ordered Sergeant Yorke, Corporal Necro and Private Ilyuschenko to remain at the Avenger and test the HWP platform whilst he would lead the rest of the team towards the API base.

 

Managing to penetrate towards the inner perimiter of the base the team saw a single guard patrolling around a dune and guarding the entrance to the base. Moving towards him as he turned away and went behind the dune the team tried to use their knives to silently dispatch him, but at that point another guard appeared from the back and was alerted by the X-Com team's sounds. However thanks to a stone being thrown by Sergeant Ong the team avoided detection by that guard. But the other one that was guarding the gate just came from behind the dune and would almost spot Corporal Scott had he not assaulted him with his knife. After some more help from Corporal Fleche the guard went down, but in doing so they made quite some noise which alerted the previous guard that was behind the team. At that point Sergeant Howardson decided to open fire with his Laser Pistol and was followed closely by Lieutenant Kacur. However the beams were spotted by other guards elswhere and the alarm was raised in the API base.

 

However the alarms were apparently also raised because of an incoming Black Spear assault transport that had somehow managed to avoid detection to Arkunis IV. It began descending at the bases perimiter and was apparently poised to assault the API base itself. Landing near the team however they also opened fire on X-Com and Lieutenant Kacur immediately called for reinforcements from the team at the Avenger. After a severe battle the team arrived and began providing covering fire for the Lieutenant's team as they egressed out of the area and towards the Avenger so as to abort the mission.

 

As they arrived at the craft however the HWP was lost due to a new type of Ascadian weaponry being used by the Black Spear that was quite similar to a rocket launcher, albiet firing solid beams with some kinds of explosive properties. That same weapon was also powerful enough to severely damage one of the Avenger's engines and it wasn't until the team deployed all of their grenades at the enemy that the Avenger could finnaly safely dust off and escape. The mission was more or less failed as no significant information was recovered about the base itself.

 

Statistics:

 

X-Com personnel present:

-Lieutenant Martin Kacur

-Senior Sergeant Ned Yorke

-Sergeant Kevin Ong

-Sergeant Samuel Howardson

-Corporal Andy Necro

-Corporal Joseph Scott

-Corporal Terra Fleche

-Private Roel Ilyuschenko

-Heavy Weapons Platform (Tank/Cannon) <<Derrick Ko a.k.a. DragonHawk>>

 

Enemy casualties:

-2 API soldiers (confirmed killed)

-8 Black Spear soldiers (confirmed killed)

 

Friendly casualties:

-1 X-Com soldier heavily injured (Kevin Ong: large superficial gash at his right stomach part along with internal bleeding)

-2 X-Com soldiers somewhat injured (Roel Ilyuschenko: fusion wound at his left shoulder area; Andy Necro: a somewhat deep knife wound at his back from an accidental throw by Sergeant Howardson)

-1 X-Com soldier lightly injured (Terra Fleche: a light fragmentation wound at her right shoulder)

-1 Heavy Weapons Platform (Tank/Cannon) (confirmed completely destroyed)

 

Recovered technology: none

 

Promotions: none

 

<<Our first mission with a HWP and it gets blown to peices. Heh, fun >>

[Strong Bob]

<<This next couple of de-briefs come straight from Dragon Hawk. >>

 

Mission: The Team must enter a Black Spear under water base and extract information from the base computers as to their actions against the API organization.

 

The Mission, summed up:

 

1. E'Colus drops X-com into water.

 

2. X-Com swims down, assaulted by all manners of marine life (electric eels, or something of this nature).

 

3. X-Com locates entryway - the base reactor's exhaust line.

 

4. Yorke and Kacur undo the grate, reactor exhausts - 15 minutes until the next exhaust.

 

5. X-Com scoots in, undoing another grate on the way. Yorke, in his uber-skinniness, gets past the two people ahead of him.

 

6. Ilyuschenko pops the hatch of the subtank - X-Com enters the reactor room.

 

7. Reactor room is empty. Argument ensues as to where to go next.

 

8. Team 1 under both officers moves to attack the security area. The assault is successful - they capture some of the information that they are looking for.

 

8. Team 2 attacks the command centre, and captures two enemies after a brief firefight.

 

9. Both teams fall back to the hangar bay and leave.

[Strong Bob]

Mission: The team must locate and destroy an enemy Ascadian munitions stockpile.

 

Description:

 

Aerial reconnaissance was conducted by Pilot Evander and Co-Pilot Scott over the target area. Radar/radio sensors were ineffective at locating the stockpile, but IR scanners showed a sizable heat source underneath the largest hill in the area.

 

The hill and surroundings were inspected upon arrival, and were determined to be artificial in nature. A cairn on the top of the hill provided a marker for the base, as well as an entry mechanism. Activating the cairn opened the entrance to the subterranean warehouse through a nearby smaller hill.

 

Contact was made shortly after entry. An unsecure area for temporary storage was guarded by two warriors and two automated gatling lasers. All threats were eliminated - the gatling lasers by distracting the turrets in order for Private Goorit to shoot critical components, and the guards via ranged combat and psionics.

 

Entry into the warehouse proper was attempted but prematurely ended by contact with another Ascidian squad. A combination of rifle fire and grenades reduced the threat, but the grenades set off secondary explosions that resulted in the release of liquid fuels.

 

X-Com chose at this point to exit the facility. The stockpile was destroyed when the base' hydrogen compressor caught on fire and exploded.

 

<<Again, Dragon Hawk should be credited with these. In the future I'll do my best to live up to Loonie's quality and detailed de-briefs and not just have someone else do them. >>

[Strong Bob]

<<I had hoped to have gotten this finished a couple days ago, but school and a few other things decided to simultaneously arise to muck up my plans. So here it is! Enjoy...>>

 

Mission File: 2067-06-12-C-B00

 

Operation Date: June 12, 2067

 

Background: The destruction of such a major munitions stockpile has hurt Black Spear efforts on Arkunis IV. One of the less disciplined bands has panicked and taken matters into their own hands. They have taken over a small farming community by the equator and are demanding weaponry, money, and a ship out of system, the location to be announced later. What they do not realize is that the High Council will not negotiate with these terrorists on Arkunis IV. They are willing to risk lives in order to remove the threat.

 

Mission Objectives: Alpha Squad is to enter the village and assault the rebels. Primary objective is to remove the threat to the villagers, the second is the capture of leading members of the organization.

 

Expected Resistance: The band is known, as of the previous month, to be at a strength of thirty members. Few are from the military; most are merely disgruntled citizens. Regardless, all will be armed with rifles and other firearms; plasma or fusion weaponry is not to be expected in large quantities.

 

De-Brief: The X-COM detachment was split into two teams and brought, via a pair of Ascadian APCs, undetected into the general viccinity of the Ascadian village. After the dropoff, Sergeant Howardson ordered the two teams split up into different directions, sending Doctor Yorke's team to converge on the village from the East and his own to approach from the west.

 

Sergeant Howardon's team approached the village uneventfully, stopping at the outskirts and spotting three Black Spear rudimentary guard towers. With the combined effort of Private Goorit's scouting and Private Ilyuschenko's psionic scans, the majority of the Black Spear's contingent was uncovered, including the Black Spear commanding officer's position inside the village central building complete with numerous hostages. An attack was not an option, as the Black Spear Terrorists were very nervous and would likely respond to anything unexpected with shooting the hostages. Private Ilyuschenko had then attempted to mind control the Black Spear leader, when suddenly some gunshots were heard from Team 2's (Dr. Yorke's team) location. This caused a group of eight Black Spears to investigate, making the village defenses that much weaker. At that point Private Ilyuschenko had managed to fully mind control the Leader and had ordered him to send the troops guarding inside the central building to move outside and in the guard towers to "Watch for enemy targets". Black Spear terrorists still infested a number of the small structures around the central building, each with hostages of their own. At that point, Sergeant Howardson ordered Private Ilyuschenko to mind control a Black Spear grunt in one of the small structures to open fire on it's own comrades, it was a success, causing the Black Spears in the other buildings to run over after hearing the fusion shots and enter the the building.

 

Sergeant Howardson immediatly ordered a full frontal attack. Taking the Black Spears by surprise, Corporal Necro snapped off an HE round from his Autocannon at the base of one of the guard towers causing it to explode into splinters killing the Ascadians inside and some on the ground. The Black Spear Terrorists had begun converging on Team 1's position in full force, coming out of the buildings and leaving the hostages behind. Another shot from Necro managed to blow up six Ascadians, while fifteen more approached several others were killed with the combined firepower of Sergeant Howardson and Privates Goorit and Ilyuschenko. The two sides were then locked in a stationary shootout behind the cover of the planet's flora and rocks... Until a group of five Ascadians came running nuttily out of cover into one of Corporal Necro's grenades... Bringing their offensive number down to ten. Suddenly the Ascadians had spotted Private Goorit perched on a high tree with his sniper rifle, and attempted to shoot the tree down with their projectile weapons. Private Goorit had managed to snipe a single Ascadian before recieving a projectile wound in his leg, causing him to collapse and almost fall out of the tree. At that point, Sergeant Howardson and Corporal Necro had managed to take down three more Ascadians with armor piercing fire, and Private Goorit was somehow able to snipe down a fourth Ascadian.

 

With just five Ascadians remaining, the shootout continued for quite some time, both sides trenched in the ground and only succeeding in wasting a significant amount of ammo. Until suddenly the team had discovered a group of Ascadians attempting to flank them from the right, and had managed to shoot down all except one of them which threw his weapon down and surrendered. As well as the three remaining Ascadians entrenched earlier. The entire force had thrown down their weapons and had given up. Sergeant Howardson had then contacted Team 2 and had confirmed the mission to be a success then called in the Allied Ascadian APC vehicles to pick up the four surrendered Black Spears...

 

While Sergeant Howardson's team moved in the west, Dr. Yorke's team moved through the forest in the East. Their trek was uneventful for several minutes until they were 30 meters from the edge of the woods. At that point both Corporal Scott and Private Skitzo detected three contacts on scanners, closing in on their location from straight ahead. The team had gone into cover, taking up ambush positions in preparation... Their suspicions were soon confirmed as a trio of armed Black Spear Ascadians had come into view. They had not yet noticed the squad of X-COM soldiers in the trees and had begun socializing with one another. It was decided to take down the two targets with stealth, and the team had begun converging on the Ascadian's position by strategically surrounding them. As the team got into their respective positions, the three Ascadians had gotten into a mild argument and were almost at one anothers throats. Private Rallwell had taken this opportunity to approach the closer Ascadian with a can of bugspray, which she happened to have with her at the time, with the intention of blinding them with the somewhat deadly poison allowing the team to take them down without a sound. However, as she got close, one Ascadian took a few steps back and accidently bumped right into Private Rallwell, causing it to jump back in surprise as it saw the human standing there. Wasting no time, Private Rallwell unleashed the painful poisonous contents of the bugspray into the Ascadian's eyes, causing it to drop it's weapon and grasp it's face in pain. At that point, Corporal Fléche had leapt from behind cover, brandishing her standard X-COM combat knife, and slit the throat of one of the other surprised Ascadians before they could react. The third, yet unharmed, Ascadian attempted to fire on Corporal Fléche, but the combination between her quick reflexes and a burst of laser shots from Corporal Scott caused the Ascadian to miss and fall dead. The blinded Ascadian thrashes around a bit, but is eventually downed as Private Rallwell administered a brutal beating over it's head with the bugspray and gave it a good kick in the groin to pacify it, whilst Private Skitzo had run over to slice it open at knife-point.

 

The commotion of the battle aroused suspicion in the village, as some voices from the village could be heard by the team. Noticing this, everyone quickly went back under cover. Private Skitzo then checked his motion scanner, finding a total of eight contacts approaching their location. After the team managed to take cover once more, they found the contacts to be another eight Black Spear soldiers, and they had spotted the dead bodies from before and had begun searching the area for hostiles. Dr. Yorke then ordered the team to open fire, which no one wasted time in doing... The Black Spear expedition was quickly overtaken, as the combined fire of Corporals Jackson, Scott, Fléche, and Private Skitzo had sent a half dozen Ascadians dead onto their backs. In the shootout Private Rallwell had primed a smoke grenade and thrown it amidst the confused Black Spears, causing the last two to become disoriented and take cover. However, one of them managed to see well enough through the smoke to aim it's projectile weapon on Corporal Jackson and land a jolly good shot right in the poor guy's right arm, but it was promptly downed by gunfire from Corporal Fléche. A frag grenade from Corporal Scott also managed to eliminate the last surviving Ascadian. After, a brief recover from the incident, no more motion was detected nearby on the scanners. That said, the team finally progressed to the village.

 

Dr. Yorke's team had decided to clear one of the smaller buildings containing contacts before proceeding to the main central building containing the bulk of the Ascadian hostages. Corporal Scott was the first on the scene, breaking into the front door with Private Skitzo following close behind. No hostile contacts were found, just a number of hostages huddled together in a group. After the building was secured, Corporal Jackson and Fléche calmed the hostages down and led them out into the woods to safety. Dr. Yorke then ordered the main Central building to be motion scanned, while Private Skitzo complied Corporal Scott wasted little time and immediatly moved to the Central Building entrance. Kicking the door in, Corporal Scott barely managed to dodge a sudden blast from an Ascadian projectile gun and one of the two Black Spear terrorists inside shouted out that they would kill the hostages should the "humans" foolishly enter.

 

The team soon regrouped right outside the Central Building, it was determined that a diversion was needed if they were to wrest the hostages away from their captors. Corporal Scott volunteered to go inside unarmed and negotiate with the Black Spears, and did so after authorization from Dr. Yorke. Corporal Scott, claiming he could pilot a ship for them to leave safely, was accepted inside and put with the hostages. Meanwhile, Private Skitzo had fixed some frag grenades in the side of the building with the intention of blowing a hole inside while Private Rallwell prepared a smoke grenade beside the building entrance. Soon, Corporal Scott gave the signal by requesting the Avenger to be brought to the building, Dr. Yorke gave the go and Private Skitzo detonated his grenades from a safe distance, blasting a big hole in the side of the building. The two terrorists were shocked by the sudden 'boom' and were distracted long enough for Scott to engage one in hand-to-hand combat. Then the sudden combination of Private Rallwell's smoke grenade and a stun bomb launched by Dr. Yorke sent all the occupants of the room unconscious, including Corporal Scott, however Corporal Jackson had run in through the new door a little too hasty and shot one of the Ascadian Terrorists in the head on it's way to the ground. Also, despite it being a decent POW, Private Skitzo had approached the unconscious body of the last remaining terrorist and delivered a final bullet into it's brain, killing it.

 

In the end, all the hostages were saved. And all surviving Black Spear terrorists captured and accounted for.

 

**MISSION COMPLETED SUCCESSFULLY**

 

Participating X-COM Officers:

Sergeant Howardson

Sergeant Yorke

Corporal Jackson

Corporal Scott

Corporal Fléche

Corporal Necro

Private Skitzo

Private Rallwell (AKA Saber Warrior)

Private Goorit

 

Enemy Casualties:

26 Black Spear Terrorists, confirmed KIA.

4 Black Spear Terrorists, taken prisoner.

 

Friendly Casualties:

Corporal Jackson, a projectile wound to right arm. Minor.

Private Goorit, a projectile wound to right leg. Minor

 

Recovered Technology:

A number of Ascadian projectile/fusion weapons.

 

Promotions:

None.

 

End of Report.

 

<<THERE! Finally done. I am compelled to point out though, that this was, needless to say, a split sim due to large attendance. Yet despite that we STILL only had one GM, Ghost. While I must say he did a good job keeping things in as much order as he did, but I also noticed he was pretty stretched throughout the mission. Was that big topic on oversized sims a couple weeks ago just a big farce? I was under the impression that we were to have separate GMs for split sims... Well anyways...>>

[Strong Bob]

Mission File:

Resourcefulness.

 

Operation Date:

N/A

 

Background:

Due to low resources in NAO, the team must head to the excavation site to extract more minerals. As it is possible that hostiles may be in the area due to the increased API/BS activity, full weapon kits will be brought. The team will be brought to Objective Alpha in a K3 transport with all necessary equipment.

 

Mission Objectives:

To extract the primary resources, titanium, aluminum and iron.

 

Expected Resistance:

Possible, yet unlikely contact with API/BS or Arkunian Dinosaurs.

 

De-Brief:

On a clear, sunny, warm, and humid day, the present X-COM team emerged from the forest aboard an Ascadian Unarmored Personel Carrier. (The civilian issue UPC was used because all the standard APCs were in the shop. ) The team surveyed the mountainous area through the windows of the UPC, also spying the cave not far ahead of them. The UPC soon stopped in front of the mine cave, and the team exited to secure the area only to be interrupted by a sudden short tremor in the ground. The team was left a bit confused, since there were no reports of such seismic activity before... But the questions were suddenly answered, as a loud roaring sound (Indicating a very big creature) came from the forest in the distance. Confusion was turned into mild fear, as the team drew their weapons in the direction of the sudden roar... Private Xiggores, however, cared little what the roar was and began firing his X-COM Rifle in it's direction, likely informing it of the team's presence if it hadn't known already. Doctor Yorke moved in and quickly disarmed Private Xiggores of his firearm, throwing it to the ground and reprimanding him accordingly.

 

Then out of the blue, the trees in the distance had started shaking and toppling. And out emerged a gigantic helluva tough Arkunian T-Rex, it had certainly spotted the team and had begun to charge for them. At the sight of it, the entire team raised their weapons, letting loose a massive barrage of gunfire in the dinosaur's direction... Except for Private Xiggores who ran away screaming in the other direction... A number of direct hits were made on the T-Rex, but it's hide was unnaturally tough and deflected the bullets with ease. Commander Weindhoven had then called a full retreat back into the UPC, seeing it was useless to combat the beast with conventional weaponry. Everyone had managed to make it back aboard save for Private Xiggores, who had run off in fear, and Private McBannok, who tripped over a rock onto his face. Commander Weindhoven had recalled Private Xiggores back to the UPC and had run over to help up Private McBannok. As the three finally reentered the UPC with the rest of the squad it was too late, the T-Rex had closed in and rammed the UPC, sending it tumbling into the mine. The squad inside tumbled about like clothes in a washing machine, smacking into each other and the onboard furnishing. The UPC eventually came to rest, the team was battered and bruised now and needed an emergency extraction. Commander Weindhoven then ordered an immediate distress signal to the Ascadians in orbit around the planet, which was promptly done by Sergeant Howardson on the UPC radio. Meanwhile, as the team got their bearings straight, the T-Rex had rampaged into the cave roaring. Private McBannok reacted quickly, bring his rifle to bear and planting a single shot in the eye, somehow managing to hit a critical part of the Dinosaur's brain causing it to collapse lifelessly on the ground. The now dead T-Rex was then followed in by eight Arkunian Raptors which immediately stopped at the cave entrance, the X-COM team retreated further into the mine while shooting back, but the swift maneuvers of the Raptors was a little too much for anyone to land a single shot. The Raptors decided to then split up, five of them went running off into different sections of the cavern and disappeared while three just charged right for the team, roaring in their own ferocious way. Privates Stax and Goorit had halted their retreat and turned to fire on the pursuing dinosaurs, along with Doctor Yorke who took a kneeling position and fired as well. The Privates each managed to knock a Raptor dead, while Yorke only managed to tag one in the leg sending it skidding forward onto the ground on it's side. Despite the hostiles being down and out, Private Xiggores had continued his retreat into the mine, forcing Private Stax to run him down and tackle him. After a brief struggle between the two, Private Stax eventually released Private Xiggores, and were promptly interrupted by the screams of an Ascadian from deep within the mine accompanied by the familiar sound of fusion gunfire. The team prepared themselves and got into covering positions aimed at the sounds of screaming and fusion shots, soon finding an API soldier running out from the shadows while shooting behind him... Not yet noticing the squad of X-COM troops it ran right into Corporal Jackson before anyone could react, sending both parties onto the ground. The Ascadian recovered but accidentally dropped it's fusion weapon, Corporal Jackson also recovered but it took a few seconds for him to return to reality after the sudden collision.

 

Commander Weindhoven ordered the team to reassume firing positions while Sergeant Howardson held the retreating API at gunpoint and interrogated it as to what it was doing there. Sadly, all Sergeant Howardson could divulge was that the "Dinosaurs were eating the Ascadians" and that "They needed help." However, it was only to keep the Sergeant preoccupied in thought, as the Ascadian leapt out of his reach and retreated into the shadows, only to get it's head bitten off by a Raptor that suddenly emerged from the darkness. Privates Goorit, Bradly, and Stax opened fire on the Raptor instinctively, Private Goorit managed a good head shot while Private Bradly tagged it several times in the legs... Private Stax's aim was hindered, however, as Private Xiggores had clung onto his arms in fear. A mild argument then brewed between Privates Goorit, Stax, and Xiggores as to the young scientist's competence in the field... As the rest of the team attempted to get their bearings straight, Private Bradly got a gut feeling of danger and was suddenly ambushed by a big ferocious Raptor from behind the ruined UPC. The entire team was ready this time, and let loose a rain of bullets onto the Raptor, turning it into red chunks of flesh, unfortunately a shot to the jaw sent one of it's teeth tearing into Corporal Fléche's leg in a painful freak incident. It was then, after some more slander from his team mates, the Private Xiggores finally announced he was in possession of a Motion Scanner and activated it.

 

As Doctor Yorke moved over to tend to Corporal Fléche's wounds, Private Xiggores detected contacts all around the team in the darkness of the cave. It was safe to assume that they were now surrounded, and as a hiss came from the darkness Private Xiggores dropped the scanner to the ground in panic, causing the device to break into pieces. Another five Raptors emerged from the darkness charging for the team, the entire team opened fire, Sergeant Howardson wasn't quick enough however, as a Raptor charged and head butted him into the UPC before he could react. Private Xiggores finally gained the courage to fight back, but being unarmed he attempted to hit an oncoming Raptor with a high kick to the head only to get his left foot bitten right off. Unlike the rest, Corporal Jackson raised his weapon in time to gun down a Raptor running towards him and Private Goorit managed to take another two down while covering Corporal Fléche. A quick shot from Private Stax managed to take down the Raptor over Private Xiggores, Corporal Jackson turned his fire and gunned down Sergeant Howardson's Raptor just before it could to bite his head off.

 

At this point, Doctor Yorke had finished with Corporal Fléche's wounded leg and immediately moved over to Private Xiggores' severed foot, placing it in a containment unit to preserve it and began applying pain killers and other crap to his leg stump. Meanwhile, the rest of the team hears the sound of armored footsteps and screaming Ascadians from within the cave once again, slowly getting louder, indicating they were getting closer. It wasn't long before four API soldiers ran into view, obviously running from something else, into the squad of X-COM soldiers. Yet another Raptor leapt from the darkness onto one of the running Ascadians, pinning it to the ground and devouring it's raw flesh as another jumped out taking down yet another Ascadian to the ground. Doctor Yorke expedited bandaging Private Xiggores wound, and Private Stax ran over and dragged the crippled scientist to safety behind a rock near the UPC. Private Goorit and Corporal Jackson opened fire on the two Raptors tearing apart the API soldiers, each taking one out as the rest of the team was uncertain whether they should open fire or not. The two remaining Ascadian APIs stood in place, staring horrified in the general direction of the squad. At first it was assumed that they were surprised at being saved by a bunch of 'humans' but then one of them pointed behind the squad at the UPC wreckage.

 

Commander Weindhoven had turned around to look at the UPC, only to come face-to-face with another Raptor just inches away. It was suddenly knocked down before a reaction could be made, by pistol fire from Private Xiggores. Just in time for the Allied Ascadian E'Colus transport to land right outside the cave entrance. The team's comm. system cackled with an Ascadian voice indicating that their evacuation service had arrived. At that, the whole team abandoned the mission and boarded the E'Colus... But not before a small team of Ascadian demolitionists rigged the entrance of the mine to explode and collapse in on itself with a "Thermonuclear Boom."

 

The team escaped, the mine blown up. The mission was a brutal failure.

 

**MISSION COMPLETED UNSUCCESSFULLY**

 

Participating X-COM Officers:

Commander Weindhoven

Sergeant Howardson

Sergeant Yorke

Corporal Fléche

Corporal Jackson

Private Bradly

Private McBannok (AKA Saber Warrior)

Private Goorit. (Promoted to Corporal)

Private Stax

Private Xiggores

 

Enemy Casualties:

13 Arkunian Raptors, confirmed KIA.

1 Arkunian Tyrannosaurus Rex, unconfirmed KIA.

3 API Soldiers, confirmed KIA.

2API Soldiers, Confirmed KIA.

 

Friendly Casualties:

Private Xiggores, severe leg trauma from Raptor bite. Left foot severed from main body. Critical, patient expected to receive prosthetic replacement.

Corporal Fléche, flying Raptor tooth wound in left leg. Minor.

The rest of the team received minor bruising from the tumble of the UPC early in the mission. Insignificant.

Sergeant Howardson, mild concussion from being thrusted head-first into a UPC. Minor.

 

 

Recovered Technology:

None.

 

Lost Equipment:

One Ascadian Unarmored Personel Carrier, crippled by Dinosaur attack. (Annihilated by "Thermonuclear Boom".)

Private Xiggores, one Motion Scanner shattered on the ground due to impulsive nervous behaviour, one X-COM standard Rifle disarmed by Sergeant Yorke, one basic Vacc. Suit discarded due to excessive amount of human waste found inside afterwards...

 

 

 

Promotions:

Private Goorit, promoted to Corporal for excellent performance in the field of battle.

 

<<Phew, woulda had this here done this afternoon. But, if you've tried, you should know what it's like trying to run the same word file on two completely different word programs, apparently they decided that saving much more than a quarter of the text was unnecessary and filtered it out. *Sigh* Anyways...>>

[Strong Bob]

Mission File: Diverted Route

 

Operation Date:

N/A

 

Background:

Ascidian High Command has received intelligence that the aliens are planning an assault on the Ascidian homeworld's capital, The city of Ascidia. The civilians are being evacuated, however many will still remain in the city. However, they also received information that Black Spear Warships were to intercept a convoy of API warships at almost identical times. However, AHC has notified us that our presence will be required to defend Ascidia, along with the Red Skulls and General Asicidan Forces, while the Black Skull squadron will attempt to engage both the API and BS ships in an attempt to disable them all. This seems a coordinated attack by both the aliens, and between the BS and API. The motives are not yet understood.

 

Mission Objectives:

To defend the city of Ascidia and it's inhabitants. Minimise damage to city and civilian casualties.

 

Expected Resistance:

Unknown planetary incursion forces, probable alien terror units.

 

De-Brief:

The team was brought to Ascidia <<You have no idea how badly I was tempted to call it "Ascadia". >> via an E'Colus transport to the spaceport. Commander Weindhoven had given the 'in-mission' briefing with a computer map display, indicating that they were to accompany a small squadron of Ascadian soldiers to a certain position. At which point the team disembarked, the Ascadian partner team came running in on cue, and Commander Weindhoven had suddenly received a surprise message from Sergeant Ong of Kappa Team (Which was on-world at the time for a separate matter.) informing him that Kappa was on the way to help out. After some idle chatter back and forth between Alpha and Kappa Team, there was a sudden interrupting explosion at the other side of the city. Alpha decided to move on ahead to the explosion to see what was up, letting Kappa catch up via a freefall from a VTOL transport. A UFO was sighted as the team approached the earlier explosion, bearing witness to a bombing run, and discovering a transport UFO land not 500 meters away.

 

Alpha, Kappa, and the Ascadian Regular Forces had taken cover positions in preparation for whatever may exit the UFO. "Gray" things and Snakemen came running/slithering out of the ship and moving into the alleyways of Ascadian buildings and taking defensive positions. All the while, Alien bombers made their runs across the city laying waste in their path as Ascadian Anti-Air guns returned fire. The combined power of Alpha, Kappa, and the Ascadians managed to take down a number of Chrysalids and Snakemen exiting the UFO transport, however most of the Chrysalids were missed that had ducked into the nearby alleys... Doctor Yorke then noticed a creme colored object hurtling toward him, confused at first, the Doctor suddenly recalled a memory from his training and dodged the object, judging it to be a Blaster Bomb, as it flew past and completely destroyed a building behind the team. Private Bradly attempted to shoot down the object before it hit the building, but it only distracted him long enough for a Chrysalid to sneak up on one of the Ascadians covering him and jam it's mouth into the poor Git's chest. If things weren't bad enough, an Alien bomb had suddenly landed on a very close by building causing a massive explosion, momentarily distracting the squad from their train of thought. Private Bradly was thinking clear enough to shoot the nearby Chrysalid's head off though, leaving the ravaged Ascadian dead on the ground. Private Bradly then administered a few shots to the Ascadian's corpse to ensure that it didn't hatch into a baby Chrysalid.

 

Snakeman "Launchereers" had then taken position in front of the UFO transport, sending a single Blaster Bomb into the fray of Ascadian regulars. The regulars all managed to duck and cover to avoid the blast, save for one that froze and was caught in the core of the Blaster Bomb explosion. Commander Weindhoven then ordered that the team would have to advance in on the UFO transport to take out the "Launchereers", the team complied and slowly advanced towards the ship as UFOs bombed the area, sending yet another building down in flames. The team laid down heavy suppressive fire on their way, and the Snakeman numbers began to dwindle from the hail of bullets. A retaliatory shot came from one of the Snakemen, landing a plasma cloud right in Commander Weindhoven's leg, it didn't penetrate the armor unfortunately... I mean fortunately ... And the good Commander was unhurt.

 

Ever so slowly, the team managed to get within 250 meters of the transport, yet as the Commander tried to recover from his Plasma hit a Chrysalid leapt off of the roof of a nearby building, tackling him to the ground. Private Bradly managed to catch the Chrysalid off guard with a few shots from his rifle before it could make Commander Weindhoven the mother of it's children. Another Blaster Bomb was shot from a Snakeman "Launchereer" that exterminated a number of Ascadians and sent the Commander and Private Bradly flying a good 250 meters into the UFO transport's hull, leaving the rest of the team behind. Commander Weindhoven banged his head pretty hard on the ship and quickly fell into unconsciousness, while Private Bradly merely received minor bruising and aches. Corporal Fléche attempted to run to their aid, but was readily intercepted by a line of 5 Chrysalids. Corporal Fléche managed to gun down a couple Chrysalids, while Lance Corporal Ko downed the other three from afar. Doctor Yorke and Corporal Fléche had run to Private Bradly and Commander Weindhoven's aid, as 15 young Ascadian children suddenly ran out into the crossfire of the battlefield for no reason. The team had become hesitant in their fire, but the enemy Snakemen mercilessly continued shooting. 3 of the dumb Ascadian children were vaporized by plasma clouds. Corporal Fléche and Doctor Yorke had begun treating Private Bradly and Commander Weindhoven when suddenly another building exploded nearby, sending the team under even more pressure.

 

Lance Corporal Ko attempted to get the Ascadian regulars under control by sorting out their Commanding Officer in order to gain an advantage, but to little avail as they all replied at the same time confusing the poor Lance Corporal. All of a sudden, yet another Blaster Bomb is fired by the "Launchereers" at the Ascadian children, whom decided that it was a good idea to hide out in the middle of the street. Sergeant Ong, however, managed to catch the bomb off guard with a miraculous display of marksmanship by shooting down the Bomb en route, saving all the children. All the while, Corporal Fléche finally managed to take Commander Weindhoven out of unconsciousness and Doctor Yorke diagnosed Private Bradly with a broken arm. Commander Weindhoven, while fighting off minor sleep sickness, suddenly found 4 Chrysalids charging for Corporal Fléche and kicked her to the ground causing one to slam against the hull of the ship, in her tumble Corporal Fléche managed to down two of the Chrysalids with her rifle, the one that hit the ship, and one that was charging for her. The last two decided to alter their objective and began running for Doctor Yorke and Private Bradly. Corporal Fléche, however, managed to take down another Chrysalid with her rifle, sending it right into it's partner, impaling it.

 

Then, completely out of the blue, one of the Snakemen "Launchereers" misfired a Blaster Bomb from inside the ship, sending it packing into the inner hull of the craft and blowing a great big hole around the ship entrance. Meanwhile, yet another Chrysalid appeared from the alleyways and charged for the Ascadian children still huddled in the middle of the street, but fortunatly it spontaneously combusted before reaching them. <<Lucky buggers.>>

 

Fire from an Ascadian Anti-Air turret somewhere in the city had suddenly flakked a UFO out of the sky, sending it careening towards the X-COM and Ascadian team near the UFO transport. The team immediately took up shelter inside the UFO transport, where a wounded Snakeman "Launchereer" was found and killed by Private Bradly. The UFO crashed, sending a violent tremor inside the transport causing everyone to fall onto their backs. As they got back up, a Chrysalid leapt from the shadowy corridors of the UFO and tackled Lance Corporal Ko to the ground. Corporal Fléche ran over to bash the Chrysalid over the head as Sergeant Ong drew his saber on it and impaled the creature before it could impregnate Lance Corporal Ko... But not before stabbing his leg. Corporal Fléche had begun tending the Lance Corporal Ko's intense leg wound as 6 Ascadian Regulars had run into the ship, covering the squad from the aliens outside. After a brief conversation between the Commander and one of the Ascadians, it was discovered that the Alien invaders had begun pulling back and were in full retreat. Commander Weindhoven ordered the team to return to the Spaceport.

 

As everyone slowly and cautiously stumbled back in the opposite direction, Sergeant Ong was in the lead and spied a strange 1.2 meter tall alien walking to a building in the distance. The rest of the squad got a good look at it before it discovered their presence and turned around to escape. Corporal Fléche managed to get a running head start though, moving a good 60 meters chasing down the Alien, and tackling it to the ground. Doctor Yorke soon arrived, as Corporal Fléche struggled with the creature on the ground, and injected the alien with a heavy sedative to knock it out. The two then picked up the alien, each grabbing an end to carry it due to the lack of a mobile stretcher.

 

Alpha Team eventually made it back to the Space Port and boarded an Ascadian starship. Kappa and the Regulars broke off the group for their own reasons. And the mission was, surprisingly, a success.

 

**MISSION COMPLETED SUCCESSFULLY**

 

Participating X-COM Officers:

Commander Weindhoven

Sergeant Ong

Sergeant Yorke

Corporal Fléche

Lance Corporal Ko

Private Bradly

 

Enemy Casualties:

Uncertain, mop up operation still in progress. <<Count the kills more, Mouse! >>

 

Friendly Casualties:

Private Bradly, mild concussion from hard thrust into UFO Hull as well as a mild bone fracture in right arm. Wounded. Subject estimated to require one week before recovering to full combat status.

Lance Corporal Ko, severe trauma to right leg, minor bone fractures on shin and upper leg. Wounded. Subject will be staying on Ascidia for treatment.

Commander Weindhoven, mild concussion from hard thrust into UFO Hull. Also received a slight plasma burn on left leg. Minor.

 

Recovered Technology:

Undetermined number of Blaster Bomb Launchers and Blaster Bombs.

Undetermined number of Plasma Rifles and Plasma Rifle Clips.

1 unknown alien body, alive and unconscious.

 

Lost Equipment:

None.

 

Promotions:

None.

 

<<For the record, ahem, between the exploding Chrysalid, Snakeman "Launchereers", and Svengali's new profession, it took an extraordinary amount of willpower to keep myself from making this de-brief ten times sillier than it is now. Skonar would've had a ball with this one I'd bet.>>

[Strong Bob]

<<I almost forgot about doing this. Luckily somebody left me a good reminder. >>

 

Mission File:

2067-06-28-C-B00

 

Operation Date:

28 June 2067

 

Background:

The capture of key personality Ula'da'nor and other ranking officials has been a boon to our efforts against the entrenched API on Ascidia. The many military and civilian officials whom were marked as API collaborators have decided that it is not in their best interests to stay in the Ascidian capital. A number of them, including the opposition's deputy and the commander of the 8th Royal Ascidian Combat Regiment, have fled to the Norhern Continent under the cover of the alien raid to await pickup by API forces.

 

The base itself is a recently decommissioned fortress. Designed to keep conventional intruders out, the base was home to all manners of experiments, both military and conventionally illegal. The base consisted of a building proper, housing the administration, and a network of caves below the mountain. The base fell into disuse after a newer, state of the art facility was build closer to the Northern Capital. API members reactivated this base as a last holding point for their important members. The base itself is known to contain a small shuttle landing pad and considerable hydroponics facilities. The government does not want its assets damaged, so has ordered infantry operations to commence.

 

Alpha Squad has a preliminary reconnaissance mission on the target. The base covers a rectangular area, roughly two hundred metres across the front and three under along the sides, with a wall height of one hundred metres at the highest. The mountain slopes up, so the wall at the rear is actually only forty metres high, despite being at the same level as the front. Four machine gun turrets were present on each of the rear, right, and left side walls, and three mounted turrets were present on the front of the base, with another two guarding the entrance proper. Each gun is powered and semi-smart - each gun has electronics capable of detecting movement. The capability of this equipment is not known, but the possibility for IFF identification is also a possibility.

 

Three major weaknesses in the base'defence were highlighted. First, the ground-based nests are vulnerable due to their fire control system. Severing the power link would disable the guns momentarily as the operators attempted to troubleshoot the problem. Second, the orifice on the side of the east wall, five metres from the ground, is weak enough that entry here should be gained quite easily, but the ultimate destination of this path is unknown. Third, some sort of previously stopped sewage containment or expulsion system was unleached, revealing a bath that moved far and deep into the base. Again, as before, the ultimate destination from this path is unknown.

 

Strike Teams 1 and 2 from Strike Base 1 will also be participating in this action. The resources of the 15th Royal Ascidian Combat Regiment (infantry, armour, artillery) and the 10th Bomber Wing will be available to the mission commander.

 

Mission Objectives:

Alpha Squad is to neutralize the API presence in the base. Capture of key personalities is considered a secondary goal, subject to the consideration of the team commanders.

 

Expected Resistance:

Resistance is expected to be heavy. The entire 8th Royal Combat is expected to be housed in the facility somewhere. It is likely that the tunnel system is heavily guarded. The base' many hydroponics systems are below the mountain, making their ability to hold there indefinite.

 

De-Brief:

The squad was separated into two teams from the start. Team One, head by Lieutenant Kacur, and Team Two, lead by Sergeant Howardson.

 

Team Two entered the base through the East. Approaching through the rocky landscape, they reached the wall of the base with little trouble as it appeared that the majority of the sentries were on the other side of the base. Up the jagged wall they located a sealed grating that lead inside, however it was rusted and weak. Sergeant Howardson ordered Private McBannok to kick it in, the Private followed his order but not without causing a very loud racket busting it in. With the grating opened, the team moved in, making it by the 10 meter thick walls through the narrow tunnel. Upon reaching the other end, two API patrols were spotted in the North West and South East patrolling in a counter clockwise rotation. Seeing a chance to make their move, Sergeant Howardson commanded his team to make a break for the northern entrance into the compound building, where they all took covering positions while Private McBannok began placing C6 charges along the entrance doors. However, someone must have spotted them as klaxon wails sounded throughout the base.

 

The southern patrol located the team at the doors and began charging for them. Corporal Goorit and Private Bradly had taken them out with sniper fire, giving their location away completely. At this, they retreated behind a small building on the east side of the base and set off the charges. The building entrance collapsed in on itself, sealing it off completely. 15 Ascadians were then found dotting the ground, moaning and screaming in pain from the explosion, likely some of which were from the second patrol. Sergeant Howardson and Private McBannok had aimed their weapons and slaughtered the defenseless, yet potentially dangerous, wounded Ascadians. At which point the 15th Ascadian unit had begun bombarding the front walls of the base with artillery and demolished it completely.

 

Once that was finished, Team Two regrouped with Team One in the main lobby of the central building. They spotted Sergeant Yorke and Corporal Fléche patrolling the second floor...

 

***

 

Team One moved into the base along the dry riverbed trench to the west of the API base, aiming to get inside via the main sewage system. However, halfway down the riverbed the team encountered a small degree of trouble as the base searchlights nearly caught sight of them, but luckily nobody managed to get caught and the searchlights had gone by causing little harm. As the team progressed further they finally made it inside the sewer system. The entire team trudged through it, knee deep in Ascadian crap, swearing and bumbling about how bad the smell was. I mean, have you ever thrown up in a toilet that didn't flush right and then suddenly had a turtle head poking out and had to go right then and there, and when you finished you hit the knob on the toilet, by reflex after forgetting it didn't work, and it shot out it's contents all over the place? Yeah, it was kinda like that.

 

After several minutes of cursing the grotesquery of the sewage and the Ascadian's probable eating habits, the team finally made it to their target: A line of orifices in the ceiling that was distributing this sewage into the corridor at random... Fortunately there was a maintenance door conveniently located just to the left end of the team, and they most certainly did not hesitate to use it. They left the sewage, still covered in crap, and entered into what seemed to be a janitorial room. The team quickly brushed all the crap off of their suits and progressed onward, leaving the room with expedience.

 

The reemerged outside within the Ascadian compound. After a few moments of chatter, Corporal Scott eventually scanned the area with his motion detector, sighting heavy contacts throughout the compound, including one that was servicing nearby vehicles. Private Chavez moved in and mind controlled the Ascadian, after some degree of resistance. With the Ascadian then under his control, Lieutenant Kacur ordered that the newly controlled creature take point ahead of the squad, replacing the current Scouts.

 

Private Chavez showed a remarkable degree of Psionic skill, as he managed to command the Ascadian to move into the main structure lobby and recklessly smash a camera to pieces. This gave the squad the opportunity to move in undetected, they quietly swarmed into the lobby as the controlled Ascadian remained completely docile. But as the team had gotten inside the lobby, an Ascadian security guard came down some stairs down a corridor, clearly curious as to what had happened to the camera. It was about to disperse the disobedient API soldier standing still, but suddenly the guard noticed numerous brownish, greenish, reddish, bluish, and orangish footprints tracked throughout the entrance of the lobby. The guard called in a security team via it's own communicator, which prompted Lieutenant Kacur and Corporal Scott into action. Lieutenant Kacur let off a salvo of bullets into the mind controlled Ascadian while Corporal Scott lunged at the guard with his knife, slitting it's throat nice and clean. At this point, klaxon alarms had sounded throughout the base, the team's cover was now blown.

 

The team had started a hasty search of the complex, but were instantly disrupted as a pair of Ascadian guards came running in through another door, accidentally running into and knocking down Lieutenant Kacur and themselves in the process. Lieutenant Kacur tried taking them on in melee with a knife, but they were too strong. However, support fire from both Corporal Scott and Corporal Jackson took the guards down quite easily. At that, the Lieutenant called the 15th Royal Combat Regiment to fire artillery shots at the front gates and commanded his squad to search the entire buildings for Ascadian VIPs. The team separated once again, sending Sergeant Yorke, Corporal Fléche, and Private Stax onto the second floor while everyone else took the ground floor.

 

Corporal Scott opened the first door and, aided by Private Chavez, managed to take a pair of Ascadians hostage. The rest of the ground floor team entered the room to find the API soldiers on their knees to them, however Corporal Scott had suddenly broke one of the Ascadian's ribs with a swift kick without a single warning, alerting Lieutenant Kacur to him. The Lieutenant then lost his temper with the Corporal and struck out against him with a hard strike to the face, sending the Corporal on his back. Corporal Scott didn't take kindly to this and attempting to take Lieutenant Kacur with his bare hands, but due to the Light Ferronium armor, Corporal Scott managed only to thrust him back with sheer momentum. Private Chavez intervened in the madness, grabbing Corporal Scott by his arms, but not before he could aim his pistol at the Lieutenant and fire off several shots deep into the Ferronium suit. Luckily the armor was thick enough to keep the bullets from puncturing it the whole way, and Lieutenant Kacur was able to disarm the frustrated Corporal before any more harm could be done. Lieutenant Kacur then ordered for the Artillery to hold fire and commence storming operations. A squad of Ascadians soon arrived inside the building to escort Corporal Scott off the premises for misconduct.

 

As that happened, Sergeant Yorke, Corporal Fléche, and Private Stax made it up to the second floor and spotted a pair of guards. Corporal Fléche took position behind Sergeant Yorke along with Private Stax as he readied his blaster launcher and knocked them both out with a well place blast right between them. Corporal Fléche quickly moved into the room where they emerged and made a quick sweep, finding nothing she then went back to the unconscious Ascadians laying on the ground only to fall to the ground by a sudden tremor caused by the artillery explosions outside. The windows in the room and across the corridor smashed open from the vibrations alone, disorienting the top floor team a bit. After some mild chatter between Sergeant Yorke and Corporal Fléche, they turned to the next door, not yet realizing that Private Stax was knocked unconscious from the artillery shockwave. As Corporal Fléche opened the door, she immediately came under fire from an Ascadian hiding behind a desk in fear. At which point, Team two had conveniently arrived, and Corporal Goorit "Randomly" made Corporal Fléche's location and stood by as her escort. The two opened fire at the cornered Ascadian, ripping it to shreds. After securing this room, they made their way over to the final room, where Corporal Fléche managed to convince Corporal Goorit to take point and move in first, which was a bit of a mistake. Corporal Goorit drew his pistol and kicked the door in, opening fire on an unarmed and cornered Ascadian sitting behind a desk. The poor innocent thing was slaughtered...

 

Lieutenant Kacur heard Corporal Fléche and Sergeant Yorke ridiculing Corporal Goorit for his mistake and immediately ran right up there to disarm the guy of his pistol, likely becoming tired of the senseless violence... Everyone, including Team two, had then regrouped once again on the ground floor, to investigate the final room in the complex. Private Chavez took point to open the door while Sergeant Yorke prepared his stun launcher to clear the room. As Private Chavez opened the door, Sergeant Yorke fired off a single bomb into the room, the momentum of the blow sent the door flying open and a stray bullet zipped out and gave Corporal Jackson his mandatory shot right in his mechanical leg. The unconscious Ascadians in the building were then shipped out and the mission was a success.

 

**MISSION COMPLETED SUCCESSFULLY**

 

Participating X-COM Officers:

Lieutenant Kacur

Sergeant Howardson, (AKA DragonHawk)

Sergeant Yorke

Corporal Jackson

Corporal Scott, (Currently in detention.)

Corporal Goorit

Corporal Fléche

Private Chavez

Private Bradly

Private Stax

Private McBannok, (AKA Saber Warrior)

 

Enemy Casualties:

23 API Ascadians, confirmed KIA.

5 API Ascadians, taken prisoner.

 

Friendly Medical Analysis:

Lieutenant Kacur, light skin abrasions from friendly fire. Minor.

Private Stax, mild concussion from artillery shockwave. Minor.

Corporal Scott, bloody nose from friendly fire "sucker punch." <<>> Minor.

The entirety of Team One has been given ample amount of Dremamine to counter the stomach effects caused by the Ascadian sewage.

 

Recovered Technology:

None.

 

Lost Equipment:

Corporal Scott, 1 standard X-COM Pistol disarmed by Lieutenant Kacur due to friendly fire, likely confiscated by allied Ascadian forces.

Corporal Goorit, 1 standard X-COM Pistol disarmed by Lieutenant Kacur due to improper use, likely confiscated by allied Ascadian forces.

 

Promotions:

None.

[DragonHawk]

Mission File: 2067-07-01-N-T00

Mission Date: 1 July 2067

 

De-Brief Transcript

 

*Recording Started*

 

Commander Richter Weindhoven (RW): Right, the recorder is on. Let them come in.

 

Colonel Brad Cyriacus (BC): Ko, Chavez, we're ready for you now, come on in. You guys look horrible.

 

RW: We ARE on record, Colonel, so please refrain from making untoward comments. In your own words, can you please describe the situation?

 

Lance Corporal Derrick Ko (DK): Yes sir. Senior Sergeant Ned Yorke was interested in examining some of the local wildlife. Local persons directed him to a small mountain range, just north of the city, where a large avian species was normally present at this time of year. We were to go up to the cliff to get some first hand information. Pictures, some audio recordings, general observations.

 

BC: That is in-line with the request forwarded to our attention. Private Chavez, could you explain what happened?

 

Private Calvin Chavez (CC): Sir, yes sir! We decided an approach on foot would be best, so that we wouldn't disturb any of the birds. It started off pretty easy. Sarge Yorke and Ko were talking about the Ascidian warrior mindset, while Shadow and I were joking around... We also talked about psionic control... Say, have you ever been controlled? Sirs?

 

RW: A few times, Private, and its never fun. You need not have such a grim look on your face for it though, it's not a terribly common occurance.

 

CC: Yes sir. Uhh... So... Yeah, we talked a bit. It started to rain too, as we approached the cliff, but we decided on climbing anyway. Our climbing gear helped a lot to traverse the steep slope, but I managed to slip a bit on the way up...

 

BC: Because of the bird attack?

 

CC: No sir, not at this point. The bird attacked shortly after though. It took a peck at Ko. We tried to ignore it and defend it, but it was no good. The stupid bird grabbed Shadow and lifted him upwards.

 

DK: The bird was actually quite large, Commander, Colonel. It's wingspan was quite long, and the muscles manipulating those wings were well developed.

 

RW: I see. What happened then?

 

DK: We made it to the top of the cliff, just in time to see the bird, with Corporal Goorit, fly over the nest. Three smaller, undeveloped birds, likely to be hatchlings of some sort, were in a nest... They obviously saw Corporal Goorit as food. The bird dropped Goorit into the nest, so I took a shot at it to get it out of the way. It angled in towards us though. Yorke managed to use the nest as cover, but both Private Chavez and I were knocked off the cliff...

 

RW: Have either of you seen the doctor?

 

DK: Yes sir. I'm off of active status for the next little while, maybe a few days.

 

CC: Yes, I did. All ok sir. At any rate, I managed to grab a solid rock on the cliff, and caught Ko with my other hand.

 

BC: Your bravery and actions have been noted in your record, Private.

 

CC: Thanks. Anyway, from what we saw after we climbed back up into the crevice, Shadow was going crazy on the little remaining birds with his machete. Yorke was using his stun rod, trying to end the combat without more lethality. It wasn't working, so Sarge switched over to his handgun. He uh... accidentally shot Shadow.

 

DK: The bird was subdued eventually... Rather, it was stunned, possibly, and Corporal Goorit managed to land the final blow on an undefended target... At this point, a freak lightning bolt hit the cliff, and a portion of the crevice was destroyed. We were all knocked unconscious for a time. Unfortunately, Corporal Goorit was close to the impact point. His arm was lost.

 

BC: For the record, his arm is incinerated. Doctor Yorke has assured me that an advanced prosthetic can be fitted to replace his arm.

 

DK: It's not the same, no offence intended, Colonel.

 

BC: I know. What happened then?

 

CC: With Shadow bleeding, I administered first aid to slow or stop the bleeding. I actually managed to halt the bleeding... The Sarge was out of it for the rest of the mission. At that point, a larger bird which we presumed was the father, came out of the local cave system which opened right into the crevice. Ko called for pick up from here and we edged away from the bird, firing our weapons. The VTOL showed quite quickly. Ko covered us and the Ascidian crew member who grabbed Yorke and hauled him into the VTOL.

 

DK: I tried to use the stun launcher to take the bird down, but I didn't take into account the compression wave as the bomb detonated. It nearly tossed me off the cliff, except for the quick reflexes of Private Chavez.

 

RW: And this is it?

 

CC: Yes sir!

 

BC: What's the status of each team member?

 

DK: Sergeant Yorke was not wounded. He is still active. Corporal Goorit will need some time to get used to the new bionic arm, when it is crafted. He may be out for a week. I'll be out of action for a day or two, for my neck to get some rest. Private Chavez is still good to go.

 

RW: Excellent. Thank you, gentlemen. Brad, flip the recorder off.

 

BC: Right, boss.

 

*Recording Ended*

[DragonHawk]

Mission File: 2067-07-03-C-E00

Mission Date: 3 July 2067

 

 

X-Com Personnel Involved:

 

Martin Kacur, Lieutenant, X-Com Combat Corps

Ned Yorke, Senior Sergeant, X-Com Medical Corps

Jonathan Goorit, Corporal, X-Com Combat Corps

Andrew Necro, Corporal, X-Com Combat Corps

Kevin Bradly, Private, X-Com Combat Corps

Mordechay Hoz, Private, X-Com Combat Corps

Jarl Ryan, Private, X-Com Combat Corps

Christopher Xiggores, Private, X-Com Research Division

 

 

Background:

 

See 2067-07-03-C-B00 for details.

 

 

Objective:

 

The sensor outpost is to be secured and it's prisoners freed. All hostile forces are to be neutralized.

 

 

De-Brief:

 

Alpha Squad deployed via Viper shuttlecraft directly to the surface of the sensor outpost. As per the plan, two of the Navy's patrol corvettes maintained a stationary position at a safe distance away from the base, negotiating with the commander for the release of the prisoners. The team made their way to the secondary access airlock, roughly 100 metres in vacuum, and entered the facility.

 

Once inside, it was determined that both of the bombs lay to the arbitrarily-defined left side of the base. The brig door was essentially sealed by a large claymore-style explosive on the door. This was bypassed in favour of exploring the reactor room. There, the second explosive device was found, next to the base' hydrogen supply. Two Ascidians, possibly engineers, were there arguing over the weakness of the detonation system - the explosive was triggered from the main control room via a long wire - and its ease of disarmament. Corporal Goorit and Private Hoz were sent to dispatch the two quickly and quietly. Hoz used his knife to stab one Ascidian in the brain, while Goorit used his machete to slit the other's throat.

 

Xiggores was left in the reactor room to study the bomb while the rest of the team made a short trek to the control room. With the right side corridor clear, they entered the control room, which they found to contain fourteen Ascidians. With the element of surprise in their favour though, Alpha managed to sack the room easily. Necro targeted and eliminated the Commander's aide at close range, while Ryan sprayed fire into the room, hitting a number of operators. Hoz targeted guards in the far corners of the control room. Goorit shot down the engineering Captain while Kacur took control of the base commander and disarmed him. Yorke's stun bomb launcher neutralized many targets in the close quarters of the control room.

 

The Black Spear operators made one final attempt to get to the detonation box, slowed by Necro, Goorit, Hoz, and Ryan. The one operator that did make it to the box slapped the reactor core detonation button, but by this time Xiggores had already cut the signal wire. Goorit's attempt to disable the box with shots to each button backfired - he accidentally transmitted the signal to the brig claymore, starting the countdown there, roughly five Terran minutes. Xiggores reported this on his way to joining the team, and disarmed it by removing the detonation device.

 

Goorit and Hoz went to cover Xiggores as the rest of the team moved to secure the last two areas of the base, and reported that both Snakemen and an Ascidian were approaching the control room. The whole team became bogged down in the combat. The Snakemen attempted to keep the team in the control room, but with Goorit and Hoz outside already, they could not advance. Kacur's shots destroyed the eggsac of one of the Snakemen, forcing it down, while fire from Ryan kept them at a distance. The standoff was ended when Yorke's stun bombs blew a hole in the middle of the formation, while Kacur's thrown grenade detonated from behind, killing everything in the hallway.

 

Subsequent searches in both engineering and the barracks yielded nothing, so Alpha Squad left the combat scene to troops on the corvettes.

 

 

Aftermath:

 

Troops aboard the two corvettes secured the facility and released the prisoners. Damage is estimated to be moderate and repairs to the base will take approximately two weeks. The station commander conveys his thanks to X-Com for their aid.

 

Alpha Squad has returned to NAO in preparation for their next assignment in conjunction with the Ascidian military. There are no injuries - every trooper is ready for combat.

[DragonHawk]

Mission File: 2067-07-11-C-E00

Mission Date: 11 July 2067

 

 

X-Com Personnel Involved:

 

Richter Weindhoven, Commander, CO Cydonia Mission

Martin Kacur, Lieutenant, CO Alpha Squad

Ned Yorke, Senior Sergeant, Support Services Leader

Joseph Scott, Sergeant, Alpha Squad

Kevin Bradly, Private, Support Sniper

Mordechay Hoz, Private, Support Sharpshooter

Roel Ilyuschenko, Private, Alpha Psionisist

Jarl Ryan, Private, Support Combat Medic

Gerrit Volkernas, Private, Intelligence

 

 

Background:

 

See 2067-07-11-C-B00 for details.

 

 

Objective:

 

The Patton is under attack from an Alien battleship. The Patton must be defended at all costs. As a secondary objective, the Avenger is vulnerable to attack and must be protected as well.

 

 

De-Brief:

 

The Battleship docked with the Patton without resistance. In preparation to repel boarders, X-Com troopers had erected extensive barracades using empty containers and other unused equipment. All of the soldiers waited for the enemy to emerge from the attacking ship.

 

The initial shock force consisted of four cyberdiscs. They rushed the barriers, shooting randomly and trying to pick up targets at the same time. One of the 'discs was destroyed almost outright by laser and rifle fire, but the others allocated targets and determined that Sergeant Yorke and Private Ilyuschenko were the major threats.

 

One of the cyberdiscs was damaged heavily in the process, and Private Ilyuschenko attempted to finish it off but risked moving out of cover to do so. He was only partially successful - his hit damaged the identification systems, and instead of trying to crash into the Avenger, the cyberdisc turned on him instead. Volkernas tried to save Ilyuschenko, but the cyberdisc rammed the psionisist at full speed, skidding across the hangar into the Avenger itself, both the cyberdisc and the Avenger exploding.

 

Control of the team was lost temporarily as each soldier reacted to the loss with a wide range of emotions, from rage to sorrow. Sergeant Yorke pulled his troops together and supervised the re-ordering of the team under fire.

 

Mutons then poured out of the ship, attempting to overrun the hangar bay. X-Com troopers returned fire in an attempt to eliminate the assaulting aliens. Neither side spared any expense as both used their grenades and other munitions as effectively as possible. Too many grenades made it back into the battleship, however, and their blasts destabilized the ship's core, causing a huge detonation. The battleship was not destroyed completely, however, as troops continued to fire ordnance out of the demolished doors.

 

What did happen was that the hangar was damaged sufficiently that it could not maintain its environmental seals. The X-Com troopers beat a hasty retreat from the hangarbay, but the injured Gerrit Volkernas did not escape quickly enough. He, along with the many of the bodies and other debris in the hangar bay, were swept out into space.

 

 

Aftermath:

 

The deaths of Private Ilyuschenko and Private Volkernas have hit the team hard, but the team's determination has solidified to ensure that their comrades' sacrifice is not in vain. Private Volkernas' death was confirmed via med sensor and visual tracking as his body was incinerated in the atmosphere of Yulinis VI.

 

Minor injuries to the team are inconsequential - the squad will drop as scheduled.

[Strong Bob]

Mission File: 2067-07-12-C-B00

Mission Date: 12 July 2067

De-Brief Transcript

 

*Recording started*

 

Weindhoven: Alright... The current time is 1300. A day ago the Patton allowed an Ascadian supply freighter was meant to have boarded us, granting supplies in exchange for medical attention and repairs to their ship. It turned out to be a trap set by the aliens... Snakemen, Ethereals, Mutons, Floaters, and Sectoids were hidden within the cargo transported to the Patton.

 

Scott: The Ethereals and Mutons were on the ship sir, not in the crates.

 

Kacur: Scott!!!

 

Weindhoven: Ahem... We believe that the aliens had destroyed two of the three frieghters that were to dock with us and boarded the third, taking it over somehow. Kacur...

 

Kacur: Thank you sir... The first sign of suspicion was when I, and several others, noticed that some of the wounded Ascadians had fusion burns on their bodies... At first I thought there may be Black Spear aboard or that the present Ascadians were Black Spear themselves... But... While unloading some of the cargo I felt a psionic presence from within a cargo container. It had the familiar signature of a Sectoid but it was very faint, and I could've been wrong. I sent Sergeant Scott and Corporal Goorit to the armory to fetch armaments for the squad while I had everyone calmly continue unloading the transport. When the two returned, all the conscious Ascadians had suddenly collapsed and my suspicions were proven correct. The containers had burst open and we were all promptly attacked by Snakemen, Floaters, and Sectoids. They didn't have the element of surprise though, at least not anymore, and we successfully countered the ambush. An Ascadian regained consciousness soon after the fighting and Sergeant Scott and I interrogated it... It explained that Ethereals and Mutons were aboard the ship, holding the pilots hostage.

 

Yorke: Of course the thing fell unconscious again soon after relaying the message...

 

Kacur: Indeed. Our new objective was to retake the supply ship at that point. Go ahead Scott...

 

Scott: Alright. This was about the time you piped in on the communicator, Weindhoven, and explained that the engines aboard the ship weren't damaged at all. It was important information but I'll explain that part later. We boarded the Ascadian ship and investigated. We first spotted the crew quarters, Corporal Goorit and I opened it up to find the place burned to crisp. I'd say it was the first place attacked by the aliens, we estimate a few blaster bombs were blown in there... Likely to take out the soldiers in their sleep, if the aliens boarded with that kind of stealth that is...

 

Weindhoven: Get on with it Sergeant.

 

Scott: Right... Next we went right for the bridge, when we made the threshold corridor it looked like the Ascadians made a last stand there. Bodies from both sides were stacked and strewn all over the place. Once again, Commander, you popped in on our communicators, this time informing us of a Battleship en route. So we picked up the pace and opened the bridge doors, catching the Ethereals and Mutons off guard... We killed them all with no casualties to the Ascadian pilots.

 

Yorke: Ah, Scott I believe a grenade I threw caused some minor wounds to the Ascadians, along with some damage to the bridge consoles.

 

Scott: Yes... Dr. Yorke threw a grenade, into a room with highly sensitive equipment we were supposed to salvage, and some of the shrapnel from the explosion wounded two of the pilots knocking them down... Lucky for us, a couple were still alive and healthy. At that point, as we were getting the wounded Gits off the bridge, I noticed the navigational and helm consoles were undamaged... That's when I suggested we abandon the freighter and use it to, at the very least, distract the Battleship long enough for the Patton to escape.

 

Kacur: Yes, indeed... I took the rest of the squad with me out of the ship, leaving behind the Sergeant and two Ascadian pilots to set a course. In order to keep them from being stuck aboard, they set the engine on a timed activation to give them time to return to the Patton.

 

Weindhoven: ... And Scott and the Ascidians made it back safe and sound, sending the supply freighter to the Battleship at a ramming vector. It was a complete success. The Battleship was destroyed by the collision, maybe now we won't have to deal with it anymore. But, of course, we lost all those supplies...

 

Scott: Sir... Would you have prefered we take on the Battleship without the Patton's main weapon array?

 

Weindhoven: No. It was a good move, I just hoped someone would've thought of a better one. Doctor Yorke, what casualties did we take?

 

Yorke: Ahem, Private Hoz was the only human wounded in the skirmish. He took a plasma hit to his hand while trying to engage a Floater in close combat. He's lost a couple fingers, but I can make an easy bionic replacement. As for the Gits... Well... I can tell you now that the majority of them aren't going to make it. I'm surprised some of them aren't dead already, it's going to take a miracle for a few to survive. But the pilots, Commander, and a few of the soldiers are going to pull through, no problem.

 

Weindhoven: That's too bad. I guess we could say the aliens caught us at a slight stalemate here. It's hard to tell who hit the other harder... Oh well, if there's nothing else...

 

Kacur: No sir...

 

Yorke: No sir.

 

Scott: Nope.

 

Weindhoven: Alright then... Dismissed! ... Ah, Doctor could you turn off the recorder on your way out?

 

Yorke: Yes si...

 

*Recording Ended*

 

**Mission Completed Successfully**