X-COM II: The Earth’s Revenge (Part XI)

[Kodos]

I wanna go to Mars because I heard there were hot chicks there. Or maybe it was that there is extreme danger with little chance of returning home...in that case, I'm going to sign up for all the credit cards I can, max them out buying crack and hookers, and make sure I'm good and numb if I go to Mars. That way, if you don't pick me, I'll be chin deep in crack and hookers, and won't give two poos about whether I go. So I guess either way, I win.

Unless there really are hot chicks on Mars, and I'd have to stay on Earth. That would suck; no getting around that. So pick me! :)

One things is sure. The man makes a strong argument. :D

[Godzilla Blitz]

Mars Strike Team Omega

The next two selections for Strike Team Omega are:

1. Commander Kodos
2. Captain Revrew
3. Colonel Jfbbis
4. Colonel Wade Moore
5. Captain Jeff Nights II
Jeff is one of our most experienced agents, and although his kill total is not up there with the elite ranks, part of that is due to the fact that he has overseen the relatively quiet ASIA COM base. With rock-solid PSI defense, solid leadership skills, and commendable bravery, Jeff is a prime candidate for a Blaster Launcher job on the Mars mission.

6. Captain AStott
AStott joined X-COM relatively late in the war, but his solid work ethic and knack for killing aliens helped him skyrocket to the rank of Captain within a matter of months. Although he has slumped lately, he still ranks #5 on the kills leaderboard, and his phenomenal abilities makes him an excellent all-around agent for the Mars mission.

Welcome aboard, men.

Coming tomorrow...
Selections 7 & 8. Kodos' Commander Choice. Nominations for Agent Choice.

[Poli]

I guess I shouldn't try. Although I heart you. :) I'd even let you beat me in NCAA Football.

[Breeze]

Shoot, I thought I was going to find out my PSI rating with this latest update.

[Godzilla Blitz]

Update

This just off the presses. Looks like things are heating up.

From the Washington Post…

Aliens Demand Unconditional Surrender!

UN Categorically Rejects Offer

Non-allied Nations to Face “Dire Consequences”

3 December 2003 – (AP, Washington) In a public speech to the United Nations early this morning, Alien Ambassador Sectoid Leader demanded the immediate and unconditional surrender of all non-allied nations. “We have given the world every opportunity to join our cause peacefully, to partner with us for combined prosperity, to explore the universe together. At every juncture, you have refused our benevolent gestures. Contrarily, you have replied by creating a high-tech paramilitary terrorist force to hamper our efforts and kill our peaceful astronauts.

“We have been patient with you, but our patience has run out. If you do not comply with our request for you to lay down your arms, disband your X-COM operations, and surrender to our forces, we will be forced to employ weapons of mass destruction. For the sake of your own citizens, we beg you to comply. You have never had any chance against us, and if you do not take this opportunity to end this needless conflict we will show you why you have never had a chance.”

In a statement made later in the morning, United Nations Head Seemi Doet categorically rejected the proposal. “The Aliens propaganda machine has hoodwinked the good nations of the Europe into believing the aliens intentions are good. For months we have known the truth. Aliens have been kidnapping civilians in the night, performing brutal experiments on them, and discarding the bodies like empty Coke bottles. Their ultimate plan is to use the Earth’s population for a food source, and their gestures of friendship mask an ulterior motive so diabolical that surrender will never be an option. We have conclusive evidence of hideous cross-breeding experiments, alien abductions, and widespread massacre. To put it bluntly, Sectoid Leader: go home.”


http://home.comcast.net/~mwsmart/XCOMArt5.jpg
An alien cross-breeding experiment. UN Photo

The UN and X-COM, its affiliated high-tech combat force, have long claimed that the Aliens’ ultimate goal is to subjugate the Earth and use its population as a food source to spearhead further exploration and conquest. “There are tens of thousands of rural civilians who are missing around the world since the Aliens have arrived,” states Head X-COM Scientist Craptacular. “They have attacked numerous cities purely for the sake of terrorizing the population. The alien bases we have captured held reams of evidence detailing torture, abduction, and plans for ‘human farming’ on a massive scale. What is crystal clear is that the Aliens are out to kill every single one of us. That many countries of the world believe their lies and deception is a delusional tragedy.”

http://home.comcast.net/~mwsmart/XCOMArt4.jpg
Aliens caught in the act of abducting a young girl in Minnesota. UN Photo

In a reply to the UN rejection, Sectoid Leader stated, “Everyone has seen the doctored X-COM photos; no one believes them or the lies spouted by the X-COM terrorists. We are engendering great prosperity in England, France, Germany, and now Italy. Their people are happier, better off, and wealthier than they were a year ago. But very well, you have refused our offer of peace. Let the blood of your people be on your own hands.”

There were no reports of weapons of mass destruction being employed against Earth as this edition went to press.

Related Stories: Clergy Calls for Calm (page 1A); Gatesville Management Reports Playoff Ticket Sales Slump Due to Alien Threat (page 1C); Yankees’ Owner Offers Rocketship Tickets on E-Bay; Bids Hit $5,000,000 (page 1F).

[Godzilla Blitz]

Update

December 4
The world waits for the aliens to act on their threat, but nothing happens. There are no UFOs, no attacks, nothing. Things are completely quiet.

D-Day lies only ten days away.

December 5
Shortly after midnight, USA COM radar picks up a small UFO heading for the Atlantic. The USA COM Interceptor launches and gives chase all the way to western Russia, where it finally catches and downs the craft.

We launch the ASIA COM Skyranger to go in for the crash-site assault.

On board:
Thomkal II, BYU II, Jeff Nights II, Qwikshot II, Calis, FF Froggies, Fat Football II, Danny Van Halen, Illinifan V, Pscyho Cop II

They'll strike at dawn. Good luck, men.

D-Day is nine days away.

[Godzilla Blitz]

Random Replies...

Breeze: Maybe I missed your PSI-rating. I'll double check this evening. I thought I got everyone though.

Jerk: Excellent argument! Martian chicks must rock.

Revrew: Let's renegotiate as soon as this season is over. ;)

Sterling: You and Craptacular are travelling all over the place. We've got big manufacturing sites at EU COM, USA COM, ASIA COM, and SAM COM. Right now, I'd have to think you're spending most of your time working on the Avenger at SAM COM.

Sachmo: If none of the other pilots are still around (Capn Morgan, Toddiec IV, Superman), the job is all yours. I think Toddiec IV is still around, though, in which case we'll probably have to draw straws to see who gets to be pilot and who gets to be co-pilot.

Dawgfan: Thanks!

Jeff: Nice post!

[MikeVic]

What a letdown! I wanted to kill some more aliens!

[Kodos]

Tell those other alien bastards that the mighty X-Com forces will NEVER surrender so long as even one of us lives on!


Well, maybe if it's just ardent left...

[Wolfpack]

I'll go on record agreeing with prior sentiment: Blaster Rockets are cool! w00t! My kills-per-mission ratio is going up again... :)

[Glengoyne]

OMG!! a Psi Defense of 3. Shoot me already.

Hey if you need a Psi target to draw their attention on Mars, how can you better than that. Hell I'm the biggest target by a wide margin, and a good candidate to be up front by the door as well.

I had such high hopes too, I haven't been controlled yet. Then again, not more than a couple of my missions have exposed me to sectoids.

THREE for goodness sake.

[SirFozzie]

PsiDefense of 81! Woot! Hopefully that will make up for a short scoreboard and earn me a ticket to Mars ;)

[Thomkal]

Woot! One more chance to impress the brass selecting agents for the Mars strike mission. Thomkal II is ready to show why he deserves to be one of their choices.

I'm almost afraid to ask where you got that "alien baby" picture from. That's downright scary.

[Poli]

Kodos, you hater. :)

[Swaggs]

I hate Sectoid Leader.

[Tasan]

Tasan II here, lobbying for a spot on the Mars mission. My poor dad got punked out so bad, that he needs some retrobution. Heck, like I said earlier, I'd be a good "Give him no gun and let him run around" candidate!

[jerk3616]

If I get to go to Mars, I *so* want to wear the red Star Trek uniform.

[tucker342]

Even though tuckerIII has never been on a mission, I think you guys should pick him:D;)

[MrBug708]

I hate Sectoid Leader.

His parents are the kind of Aliens whose human counterparts, Mr and Mrs Smith, name their son John, just to be normal.

[Godzilla Blitz]

Mars Strike Team Omega

The next two selections for Strike Team Omega are:

1. Commander Kodos
2. Captain Revrew
3. Colonel Jfbbis
4. Colonel Wade Moore
5. Captain Jeff Nights II
6. Captain AStott
7. Sergeant Thomkal II
A consistent team player with a positive attitude, Thomkal II has also managed to rack up 18 kills, sixth best amongst our agents. Although it would be nice to feel more comfortable with his PSI abilities, his strong performance record and steady skills make him an good choice for the Mars mission.

8. Sergeant Achilles
Another consisent performer with a high kill total, Achilles also brings a highly accurate aim, strong throwing arm, and good PSI-skills. His only negative is his low bravery, which could be a liability if the Mars mission swings in the wrong direction.

Welcome aboard, men.

Next up...
Kodos' Commander Choice. Kodos has the floor and may make his selection as soon as he's ready.

After he posts, I'll explain the rules for the Agents' Choice selection process and we'll get started with that. Originally I was thinking about running a nomination process but I think we'll simply create a separate thread and get right to the vote.

[sachmo71]

How about a poll?

[Abe Sargent]

This is a lot of fun!

-Anxiety

[Godzilla Blitz]

How about a poll?

Thanks for the suggestion. I'm not sure it would work as a poll. We'd need a lot of choices (a poll's maximum is 12). Also, I want to let people choose two agents.

Little more work to add everything up, but it should go fast.

[sachmo71]

Duh! Forgot about the limit. Sorry.

[Raven Hawk]

Raven Hawk II stood up from the couch. The TV that sat right in front of the couch still had sound blaring from it. When had CNN become his favorite channel? It was only a couple of months ago, he remembers, that he was sitting on his own coach watching The Real World with his girlfriend.

However his new life has different priorities. At first he didn't like it. Too much structure, too much frivolity. After returning from his last mission, he understood that the structure and frivolity that had annoyed him so much was necessary in such trying times. At a base level, if you can't trust a person, you can trust their training.

Raven walks over to the medical ward and heads for Jfbbis' room. Raven Hawk knows exactly where it is because he has spent time with the Colonel on a few occassions since they returned from their last battle. Jfbbis, still in a coma, lay silently hooked up to various machines beeping at different intervals. Jfbbis had saved his life and now there was nothing he could do in return. Without a tear, he walks away whispering another thank you to Jfbbis as he had done every time he left the room.

Raven's walk back to his bunk takes him down the Hall of Heroes. An informal monument that the men had created at EUCOM. Pictures of the fallen soldiers. Men who had given their lives for X-COM. All the greats were there BYU, Shorty, Klayman, Rich . . . and his own father. Even in a picture, Raven's father could stare him down. But this time, he got a different feeling. Usually his father passed him the feeling of disworth, guilt, and disappointment. Yet, today . . . decked out in his uniform, he could swear that the picture smiled at him with pride. It was clear to Raven what he must do.

He walked down to Commander Kodos' office and knocked on the door.

"Come in!" a voice rings from inside.

"Commander, sir. I'd like to volunteer for the Mars mission, sir!"

"Duly noted. Dismissed, Squaddie."

Although Raven knows that he is not the first to volunteer, nor the most experienced, he can't help but to hope that the Commander picks him for the mission.

[Godzilla Blitz]

One seat on the Mars mission will go to the agent who wins the X-COM II Twisted Puzzle Competition (http://dynamic2.gamespy.com/~fof/forums/showthread.php?t=27045&referrerid=217), so don't miss it if you want to get on that Avenger!

[Kodos]

After careful deliberations, I have decided to choose Sergeant Swaggs to join Strike Team Omega with my Commander's Choice selection. The Sergeant is brave, highly resistant to PSI attacks, and has a great missions to kills ratio. Welcome aboard, Swaggs. Do your planet proud! :cool:

To all of our other fine soldiers, and ardent, I regret that I could not select you. Good luck in the continuing selection process.

[Qwikshot]

Qwikshot wants some action!!!

[jerk3616]

(looks up from giant pile of blow)

Fine by me, Kodos. You picked a good soldier.

(resumes face down position)

[Thomkal]

Woot! Sergeant Thomkal II is proud to join his fellow soldiers in taking it to the invaders all the way to Mars! He's working daily with X-Com Medical on improving his Psi-scores so he won't be a liability to the squad.

To Mars men! To Mars!

Thanks for picking him GB

[Poli]

Kodos is a hater. I take back my NCAA comment.

[Kodos]

Kodos is a hater. I take back my NCAA comment.

I guess rooting for you comrades to die so you can get some action doesn't pay! :p

[MrBug708]

Swaggs, why is there payment of 5 million dollars to a EA sports shush account in the Caymen ISlands?

[Poli]

I hope I get chosen eventually for being overly "enthusiast"ic.

I heart X Com.

[Kodos]

I hope I get chosen eventually for being overly "enthusiast"ic.

I heart X Com.

I honestly considered choosing you to be one of the unarmed soldiers. :)

[Poli]

I honestly considered choosing you to be one of the unarmed soldiers. :)
They don't call me Ardent Enthusiast for nothing. I'm game for being unarmed.

[Godzilla Blitz]

Mars Strike Team Omega

So far we've got:

1. Commander Kodos
2. Captain Revrew
3. Colonel Jfbbis
4. Colonel Wade Moore
5. Captain Jeff Nights II
6. Captain AStott
7. Sergeant Thomkal II
8. Sergeant Achilles
9. Sergeant Swaggs
An excellent choice by our Commander!

Up next...

10. Agent's Choice ??
11. Agent's Choice ??

To vote: go here (http://dynamic2.gamespy.com/~fof/forums/showthread.php?t=27062&referrerid=217)

Good luck!

[Poli]

OT of sorts: (I'm not trying for brownie points, honestly) GB, thanks for the fun game/dynasty report and for letting me be a small part of it.

AE

[Swaggs]

After careful deliberations, I have decided to choose Sergeant Swaggs to join Strike Team Omega with my Commander's Choice selection. The Sergeant is brave, highly resistant to PSI attacks, and has a great missions to kills ratio. Welcome aboard, Swaggs. Do your planet proud! :cool:


Thank you, Sir.

I will not dissapoint you.

[Godzilla Blitz]

Meanwhile, back at the war...

106th Mission: Russian Sectoids

The ASIA COM Skyranger heads through the night sky on yet another long journey westward. Let’s hope we they can cash in all their frequent flyer miles after this war is over. Their destination today is a UFO scout that has crash-landed in western Russia. The attack will go off at dawn, our favorite time of day.

The men make final preparations for combat. This is a small scout we’ll be up against, so we’re not expecting much resistance. We’ve been on a good run with missions lately, and now is not the time to change that trend.

Jeff Nights II leads our men.

Left Side:
1. Thomkal II (Heavy Plasma, Power Suit)
2. BYU II (Heavy Plasma, Power Suit)
3. Jeff Nights II (Heavy Plasma, Flying Suit)
4. Qwikshot II (Heavy Plasma, Flying Suit)
5. Calis (Heavy Plasma, Power Suit)

Right Side:
1. FF Froggies (Blaster Launcher, Power Suit)
2. Fat Football II (Heavy Plasma, Power Suit)
3. Danny Van Halen (Heavy Plasma, Power Suit)
4. Illinifan V (Heavy Plasma, Flying Suit)
5. Pscyho Cop II (Heavy Plasma, Power Suit)

The men scan the battlefield as the Skyranger drops though the crisp, cloudless sky. We’ve got our standard fare of terrain: fields, fences, etc. We’ll be coming down on the northeast corner of the battlefield, so the area in front of our exit and the area to the right of our exit are secure ground. However, we can make out the small, square UFO to the left of the nose of the Skyranger, about 30 meters from our exit. Also, to the immediate left of our exit is a two-story house.

The Skyranger drops the final few meters to the ground and touches down. The ramp falls away…

Silence.

Our tank drifts out of the Skyranger bay, spins, and searches for aliens. There’s nothing near the exit, nor can we see anything in the house to our left. We send the tank vertical, and have it begin sweeping the battlefield.

BYU II and Danny Van Halen are first out of the Skyranger. They take up firing positions at the landing gear. Jeff Nights II exits, goes vertical in his flying suit, and hangs back of our tank by about 10 meters.

There appear to be no aliens near our Skyranger, but the house to the left of our position remains a mystery. BYU II breaks for the front door and enters. He’ll clear that building. Thomkal II exits the Skyranger and joins Danny Van Halen. The two of them advance under the Skyranger body, and head south, to search the area on this side of the UFO. Fat Football II and Calis exit next. They head southwest, straight for the UFO. FF Froggies exits and sets up a firing position near our Skyranger with the Blaster Launcher.

Suddenly, as our tank continues its aerial sweep, it picks up a Sectoid cutting across an open field behind the UFO, about 50 meters away from our men. Jeff Nights, up high, is the only agent with a shot, but it’s an awful long one. Nevertheless, he carefully lines it up and pulls the trigger on his heavy plasma. A single streak of plasma blazes across the battlefield. Jeff’s first shot catches the unaware Sectoid right in the torso. We see a splash of green. The Sectoid falls backwards to the field. Hell of a shot, Jeff! X-COM 1, Aliens 0.

With that, we pull Jeff back down to the Skyranger and replace him with Qwikshot II and Illinifan V. They head vertical, then start moving southwest across the battlefield.

Over the next couple of minutes we are able to expand our position without meeting any resistance, but as we start to close on the UFO, our tank picks up a Sectoid walking behind some shacks behind the enemy UFO, about 40 meters away. Danny Van Halen, on the flank of our position, actually has a long shot at this alien. He lines the creature up on his HUD and pulls the trigger. Plasma goes streaking toward the shacks but most of it slams into the corner of the intervening UFO. Before Danny can adjust his aim, the Sectoid darts behind the cover of the shacks.

Fat Football is about 45 meters away from this alien, but the shacks and UFO are in the way. He has no chance for a shot. Instead, he preps a grenade, carefully judges distance and wind, then lobs the thing over the UFO and shacks. The grenade bounces off the flat roof of the shack and disappears right behind the shack where the alien is taking cover. A second later there is a crashing explosion rips apart the back half of the shack. We hear the Sectoid screaming in agony. Wow! Nice throw, Fat! X-COM 2, Aliens 0.

While our men continue to expand our position, our Hovertank heads for the shacks behind the UFO to get a closer look BYU II gives us the all-clear on the house. We make one quick change, as we pull Fat Football off the front line and replace him with Psycho Cop II

As our tank closes in on the shacks, once again it spots a Sectoid. This one is cutting between two of the small huts. Once again, we’re too far away to have many agents with open lines of fire. Only Illinifan and Qwikshot have any chance of hitting the creature. As they open fire from long distance, Thomkal preps a grenade and tosses it towards the alien’s position. Qwikshot and Illinifan’s plasma tear up the small wooden shacks, but it is Thomkal’s grenade that blows apart the fleeing Sectoid and picks up the kill. Another nice toss! X-COM 3, Aliens 0.

With that kill, the battlefield is secure except for the interior of the UFO. Time to bust it. We bring Psycho Cop, Calis, and Danny Van Halen to a position just beside the near corner. Illinifan and Qwikshot take the roof right above the front door.

FF Froggies will blow a hole in the back corner. Right after that, we’ll send Psycho, Calis, and Danny in through that opening. An instant later, Illinifan and Qwikshot will go in the front door.

On three. One…two…three!

FF Froggies pulls the trigger on the Blaster Launcher. The missile races around the Skyranger and slams into the corner of the UFO. Flame and dirt are kicked back from the craft as the missile punches a hole in the thick UFO skin. Just as the explosion dies down, we hear the screams of dying Sectoids inside the craft. Danny Van Halen is the first to the hole. He looks inside…

Nothing left. There is a dead Sectoid in the middle of the UFO. Everything else inside has been flattened by the blaster missile. X-COM 4, Aliens 0.

Mission over.


Kills: Fat Football II, 1; Thomkal II, 1; FF Froggies, 1; Jeff Nights II, 1.
KIA: None.
Wounded: None.
Attribute Improvements: Fat Football II, Thomkal II, FF Froggies, Jeff Nights II.
Final score: 68.
Mission Notes:
Well, it turns out that even FF Froggies can hit something with a blaster launcher. He finally gets his first kill to end the mission. Next time we’ll have to work on BYU II getting his first kill, and Calis to get some action.

With flying suits, Hovertanks, and blaster launchers, we are a force to reckon with. The advantage of going vertical is huge.

[Poli]

I heart flying suits. Screw the aliens and their blasted grenades!

[Godzilla Blitz]

Update

December 6

The alien threat appears to be a bluff, as there are no signs of weapons of mass destruction being employed anywhere on the planet.

Late in the day, the AFRICA COM Interceptor downs a medium UFO scout over Denmark, but the UFO plunges into the ocean and sinks without a trace.

Otherwise, the day is quiet.

D-Day minus eight days.

December 7

The world relaxes as four days have gone by without any biological, chemical, or nuclear threats.

Late at night, the ASIA COM Interceptor bags yet another Snakeman UFO scout over Siberia. The thing crash lands in the forests. We launch USA COM to attack. They’ll go in for the assault at dawn on the 8th.

On board:
Achilles, Sublime II, Jeeber D, Mr. Bug IV, Klayman III, Patman II, Lokugh III, AStott, Anxiety III, Katon II

D-Day minus seven days.

[Poli]

Darn, I missed the flight today.

[Glengoyne]

They don't call me Ardent Enthusiast for nothing. I'm game for being unarmed.
I am with Ardent on this one. I don't need no stinking weapon.

Not only am I willing, but I have the psi defenses to get the job done! I mean no one else is even in competition when we talk about psi defenses.

I suck!! pick me!

[JeeberD]

Those snively Snakemen will suffer satisfactorily...

[Godzilla Blitz]

One agent has been selected by his commander. One agent will win the Puzzle Competition with their mind. Two will win Agent’s Choice awards with the respect of their peers. It is only fitting that some of you win a spot on the Mars mission via your ability to kill aliens. So we present to you…

The Battle Competition

The next 14 agents in order of total kills have been selected as participants in this mission. They are as follows:

1. Danny Van Halen (14)
2. Patman II (13)
3. Wolfpack (13)
4. Qwikshot II (12)
5. Coffee Warlord II (11)
6. Sublime II (11)
7. Jeeber D (10) Normal
8. Naiwf (10)
9. Fat Football II (10)
10. Split Personality III (9) Aggressive
11. Breeze (8)
12. Afoci (8)
13. Illinifan V (8)
14. Japherwaki II (7)

Alternates:
15. Real Deal III (7) Aggressive
16. Chuck U Farley (5)
17. Glen Goyne (5)
18. Alf III (5)
19. Mr. Bug IV (5) Normal
20. Blade6119 (4) Normal
21. Mike Vic (4)
22. Klayman III (4)

Important ties have been broken first by Kills/Mission ratio, and then by family total kills. These rankings will change as new missions come in, so don’t get too comfortable.

Fourteen of you have been selected to assault the sole remaining alien base, in England. All fourteen of you will be given heavy plasmas, two grenades, and a medi-kit. We will take blaster launchers, but will store them to the side unless we lose 9 agents, at which time any agent may pick up and use a blaster launcher.

-Instead of me selecting the order of deployment, I will be using random dice rolls to determine who is first down the grav-lift, etc.

-I almost always try to spread out the kills over a number of agents so as to maximize our total attribute gains. However, on this mission, it’ll be every man for himself, for as many kills as he can get. I will always push you to get a kill. For example, if two agents can fire at the same alien, I will roll a die to determine who shoots first instead of giving the shot to the agent without a kill, etc.

-Generally I play a cautious game. I make sure our flanks our covered before advancing. I have us search areas carefully even though I am 95% sure there are no aliens in them. On base missions, I try to establish a solid perimeter and work hard to maintain it. In this mission, however, you will determine the mode of play for your agent. You will select from either: (1) Aggressive (move forward as fast as possible toward through your assigned sector with no regard for defensive reactions or flanks); (2) Normal (move through your assigned sector often with regard for reactive fire, but with little regard for getting outflanked; (3) Cautious (move through your sector always considering reactive fire, and never allow the potential to get outflanked). Again, generally I play a cautious game to minimize casualties. Aggressive usually gets an agent killed quickly. Normal is still risky on base missions, where it’s easy for aliens to get in behind our positions.

-Your performance will be scored, and the top two agents will get a ticket on the Mars mission. Scoring will be as follows:

Point Scoring
Kill Alien or Mind-Controlled Agent: 2 points
Hit Alien or Mind-Controlled Agent (but not register a kill): 1 point
Confirmed Kill of a Blaster-Launcher Alien: 1 bonus point
Treat Fellow Agents’ Wounds: 1 point
Earn Angel’s Wings: 1 point
Be the first agent into the Command Center who survives the mission: 2 points
Be the second agent into the Command Center who survives the mission: 1 point
Lose Morale Due to a PSI attack, forcing us to order you to drop your weapons until you regain composure: -1 point
Freeze: -2 points
Go Berserk: -4 points
Get Mind Controlled: -8 points
Get killed: Disqualified

-Agents may pick up and use any enemy weapon they find on the mission, including Blaster Launchers.

To qualify for this mission, post here by midnight June 23 (CST), with your preferred combat mode: aggressive, normal, cautious. Alternate agents please post here as well, as we’re likely to need a few of you to replace agents that don’t answer the call. If you don’t make the post, we’ll replace you with someone from the alternate list. Also, any winners of the Agent’s Choice awards—if they in the group of 14 men—will be dropped from the mission and replaced with an alternate.

Good luck!

[kingfc22]

If I ever see Tucker III, he is going to get a blaster launcher in his stomach.

KingFC I had 3 kills in his first action and would probably have another kill which would make him an alternate for this great base assault challenge.

[JeeberD]

JeeberD reporting for the English base assault, Sir! I would like to usa a normal combat mode...

[Blade6119]

Im always ready for the mission godzilla, and ill do whatever you want

[SplitPersonality1]

We, SplitP1, will play aggressively of course.

[RealDeal]

I'm going aggressively. Making the base assault has been my number goal since the first mission of the first X-com, so I'm going all out for it. Due to Kerlinni killing my talented grandfather and due to my always ending up on the wimpy missions, it now looks like I will be denied. I'd rather be dead than sitting at home during the base mission. So I want to go in and try to kill as many aliens as I can.

[MrBug708]

I like how if you get klled, you are D/C

[Godzilla Blitz]

I'm going aggressively. Making the base assault has been my number goal since the first mission of the first X-com, so I'm going all out for it. Due to Kerlinni killing my talented grandfather and due to my always ending up on the wimpy missions, it now looks like I will be denied. I'd rather be dead than sitting at home during the base mission. So I want to go in and try to kill as many aliens as I can.

I think you'll definitely get on board this one, though. Some of the agents on the list aren't around that much, and someone above you is bound to win the Agent's Choice award.

[Tasan]

Hey if not enough guys report in for this mission, can you throw some of us Africa guys in that have been active, or are kids of former Squadies? Just a suggestion ;- )

[Godzilla Blitz]

December 7, 5:19 PM CST

As we wait word on the USA COM's mission to Siberia, I grab an early dinner, and then start back toward my room to try to relax. As I walk the halls of USA COM, I think about the men who are once again risking all for their planet. It is this time--the waiting--that is always the hardest part for me. How many men did I send to their deaths today? How many men will endure unimaginable pain because I have once again ordered them into the breach? How many more must die to before this hellish war ends? I have been asking myself these questions since the first day of this war, and finally the answers may lie less than a week away. But it does not make the wait tonight any easier.

I arrive at my door, unlock it, and step inside. I turn on the light, and glance around the room. The red light on my phone is flashing: message. I cross to it, press the play button, and listen...

It is a female voice. Miss Terry's voice. She is crying. Her words are nearly unintelligble...

"...sorry..too late...it's starting...it's awful...all the bodies...everyone...they are all dead..."

The message ends.

[jerk3616]

GB - You know I love you (in a plutonic, mannish sort of way of course)...but seriously. Damn.

Now I have to eat bon-bons and watch the Lifetime channel to get over your post. I blame my love handles on you.

:)

[Breeze]

I love this one:

<b><i>Get killed: Disqualified</i></b> :D

[Poli]

December 7, 5:19 PM CST

As we wait word on the USA COM's mission to Siberia, I grab an early dinner, and then start back toward my room to try to relax. As I walk the halls of USA COM, I think about the men who are once again risking all for their planet. It is this time--the waiting--that is always the hardest part for me. How many men did I send to their deaths today? How many men will endure unimaginable pain because I have once again ordered them into the breach? How many more must die to before this hellish war ends? I have been asking myself these questions since the first day of this war, and finally the answers may lie less than a week away. But it does not make the wait tonight any easier.

I arrive at my door, unlock it, and step inside. I turn on the light, and glance around the room. The red light on my phone is flashing: message. I cross to it, press the play button, and listen...

It is a female voice. Miss Terry's voice. She is crying. Her words are nearly unintelligble...

"...sorry..too late...it's starting...it's awful...all the bodies...everyone...they are all dead..."

The message ends.
Zut. :(

[Alf]

Alf III will join if permitted and will play on normal mode.

[Godzilla Blitz]

Just a quick update for people that haven't seen the bottom of page 6...

The Battle Competition requires a post here saying that you're in, and what kind of combat mode you prefer: aggressive, normal, cautious. If you don't care about the combat mode, I'll probably put you on normal. More details are near the bottom of page 6 in this thread.

So far we've heard from the bold-faced names...

1. Patman II (15)
2. Danny Van Halen (14)
3. Wolfpack (13) Cautious
4. Sublime II (12)
5. Qwikshot II (12) Aggressive
6. Coffee Warlord II (11) Normal
7. Jeeber D (11) Normal
8. Naiwf (10) Normal
9. Fat Football II (10)
10. Split Personality III (9) Aggressive
11. Breeze (8) Normal
12. Afoci (8)
13. Illinifan V (8) Cautious
14. Japherwaki II (7)

Alternates:
15. Real Deal III (7) Aggressive
16. Klayman III (5)
17. Chuck U Farley (5) Aggressive
18. Glen Goyne (5)
19. Alf III (5) Normal
20. Mr. Bug IV (5) Normal
21. Blade6119 (4) Normal
22. Mike Vic (4)
23. Raven Hawk II (3) Normal
24. Vince (3) Aggressive
25. Ardent Enthusiast (3) Normal
26. Lokugh III (2) Normal
27. Katon II (2)
28. Psycho Cop II (2)
29. Hoops Guy (2)

[JeeberD]

Hmmm...I really hope that Miss Terry isn't talking about me...

[Swaggs]

December 7, 5:19 PM CST

As we wait word on the USA COM's mission to Siberia, I grab an early dinner, and then start back toward my room to try to relax. As I walk the halls of USA COM, I think about the men who are once again risking all for their planet. It is this time--the waiting--that is always the hardest part for me. How many men did I send to their deaths today? How many men will endure unimaginable pain because I have once again ordered them into the breach? How many more must die to before this hellish war ends? I have been asking myself these questions since the first day of this war, and finally the answers may lie less than a week away. But it does not make the wait tonight any easier.

I arrive at my door, unlock it, and step inside. I turn on the light, and glance around the room. The red light on my phone is flashing: message. I cross to it, press the play button, and listen...

It is a female voice. Miss Terry's voice. She is crying. Her words are nearly unintelligble...

"...sorry..too late...it's starting...it's awful...all the bodies...everyone...they are all dead..."

The message ends.

:eek:

[SirFozzie]

Bleah again :)

[Chuck U Farley]

Chuck U. only goes aggressive

[Raven Hawk]

Good luck Jeeber and CW! Do me proud, so we can remove you from the peer voting list. :)

Raven Hawk II goes Normal if you need alternates to the alternates. ;)

[illinifan999]

I will go cautious. I'm a wimp, this is the longest an Illinifan has gone without dieing/running away doing who knows what now.

[Breeze]

I'm brave, but I'm also slow to the draw - so getting the most kills seems far fetched - unless I do and awesome job with a blaster launcher. I go normal.

[Godzilla Blitz]

107th Mission: Snakemen in Siberia

The USA COM Skyranger soars over the dark, frozen North Pole on its way to battle Snakemen in Siberia once again. This route, this battle, has almost become a ritual.

D-Day lies only six days away, and we still have a number of positions left to fill on the 18-man strike team. This will be one of the last few chances for these agents to make a statement to X-COM command to be selected in the final round of X-COM Command Selections.

As the Skyranger begins its gradual descent to the battlefield, Jeeber D goes to unlock the blaster launcher locker. The lock sticks, and he is unable to get the thing open. He tries a number of times to jimmy the lock, but nothing works. Just then, the Skyranger begins its quick, vertical drop, and for the moment, the Blaster Launcher is locked away, unavailable for use. Jeeber grabs a Heavy Plasma from a rack next to the locker and works his way back to his spot in the Skyranger.

Patman II will lead our men.

Our men:

Left Side:
1. Achilles (Heavy Plasma, Flying Suit)
2. Sublime II (Heavy Plasma, Flying Suit)
3. Jeeber D (Heavy Plasma, Flying Suit)
4. Mr. Bug IV (Heavy Plasma, Flying Suit)
5. Klayman III (Heavy Plasma, Flying Suit)

Right Side:
1. Patman II (Heavy Plasma, Flying Suit)
2. Lokugh III (Heavy Plasma, Flying Suit)
3. AStott (Heavy Plasma, Flying Suit)
4. Anxiety III (Heavy Plasma, Flying Suit)
5. Katon II (Heavy Plasma, Flying Suit)

The Skyranger drops to the stark, cold Siberian forests. We’re coming down just as the sun peeks over the horizon to the east. Long shadows play in the pine trees below. It looks like we’ll be coming down in a large clearing in the middle of the active zone today. Unusually for this area, we’ve got some open space to work with; the entire area appears lightly wooded instead of the usual dense forests we encounter up here.

We can also make out the badly damaged, cross-shaped UFO. It’s smoking hulk will right beside our exit ramp to the left, about 10 meters away. We’ll be facing the UFO door, so things should get interesting fast. Elsewhere, we’ve got a small hill about 20 meters in front of our exit. To the right of our Skyranger exit and by the nose of the craft, we’ve got large hills. There is also a small hill to the left of the UFO.

The Skyranger drops the final few meters to the ground and lands softly on the frozen earth. The ramp falls away…

Nothing. Cold air washes into the Skyranger bay.

Our tank rolls out of the Skyranger and spots a Snakeman right beside the Skyranger ramp, about 5 feet from our craft! Achilles and Patman II bolt forward, launch themselves out of the Skyranger, twist in the air, and open fire. Achilles blows a hole in the Snakeman’s torso before it can get a shot off at our tank, which has jumped vertical to avoid fire. As the Snakeman topples backwards, Achilles and Patman II hit the ground, roll, and take up firing positions. No other signs of movement. X-COM 1, Aliens 0.

Achilles scrambles back up the ramp as Patman II moves to the left landing gear. Just as Patman gets to the gear, he spots a Snakeman, about 30 meters away, cutting towards our position from the right of the large hill on the right of the Skyranger. Patman twists, aims, and fires. Plasma races toward the alien and nails him in the stomach. The alien lets out a wail and tumbles to the ground, twitching. Within seconds it is dead. X-COM 2, Aliens 0.

Lokugh III, Sublime II, and AStott are next out of the Skyranger. Lokugh jumps down to the right landing gear. Sublime II prepares a grenade to toss through the large hole in the UFO roof. AStott goes vertical to try and spot aliens from up high. Our tank starts a circular sweep high above our Skyranger.

Suddenly, Lokugh III picks up a Snakeman, about 30 meters away, advancing on our position through some woods to the left side of the Skyranger, up by the nose of the craft. Both Lokugh and AStott open up. Plasma tears up the ground around the Snakeman, who turns to flee. Lokugh slams a shot into his torso, but the alien stays up. An instant later AStott blows the right side of its skull apart with a headshot. The creature screams and falls. X-COM 3, Aliens 0.

Before we can catch our breath, Patman spots another Snakeman bearing down on us to the right of the hill on our right. Patman is the only one with a shot. The Snakeman goes for his weapon at the same time. Patman pulls the trigger first, but slams a shot off the hill. The Snakeman blows a chunk of dirt up at Patman’s feet. Patman’s second shot has better luck, as it disembowels the Snakeman and sends it crashing to the forest floor. X-COM 4, Aliens 0.

Just as this ends, Sublime’s grenade disappears into the UFO and goes off with a dull crash. Smoke comes billowing out of the UFO, and we hear yet another alien scream! On the tails of the scream, Jeeber D makes it out of the Skyranger, goes vertical, and trains his weapon on the UFO door and at the gaping hole in the UFO roof. X-COM 5, Aliens 0.

Yet another alien comes charging down on our position. This one is about 40 meters away, up past the nose of our Skyranger, and is firing from the hip as it advances. Jeeber D goes vertical, leads the Snakeman by a couple of feet with his heavy plasma, and opens fire. The Snakeman rushes through the hail of fire, as AStott, Patman, and Lokugh join in the fray. It’s Jeeber D that racks up the kill, though: A plasma blast to the torso blows a chunk out of the creature and drops it to the ground. X-COM 6, Aliens 0.

Back in the Skyranger, Klayman III pries open the stuck Blaster Launcher cabinet, stuffs a missile in the weapon, plots a quick firing path out of the Skyranger bay and into the UFO, and pulls the trigger. The missile roars out of the bay, cuts left, and disappears into the hole in the roof. The missile twists and turns inside the UFO, then slams into something and goes off with a massive roar. Flames and smoke mushroom out of the hole in the roof, and we hear yet another alien screaming in agony. X-COM 7, Aliens 0.

As this explosion dies down, our men frantically scan the forest and UFO for signs of more aliens. While the do this, Katon II replaces Patman II at the Skyranger landing gear. Mr. Bug IV replaces AStott on the left side of our exit. Anxiety III replaces Sublime overlooking the UFO. Patman II, AStott, and Sublime II head back into the Skyranger bay to join Achilles.

Just at they get there, our Hovertank spots yet another alien advancing on our position from the right side of the hill to the right of the Skyranger. Lokugh III and Katon pick up the alien on their HUDs and open fire. Both men are wild at first, but Lokugh quickly adjusts and hits the alien with a plasma blast that blows a chunk out of the creature’s groin and drops it wailing to the ground. X-COM 8, Aliens 0.

And with that, our threat sensors turn green. Four minutes, eight seconds. Eight dead Snakemen. No casualties. Not bad, men. Not bad at all.

Kills: Achilles, 1; Patman II, 2; Sublime II, 1; AStott, 1; Jeeber D, 1; Klayman III, 1; Lokugh III, 1.
KIA: None.
Wounded: None.
Attribute Improvements: Achilles, Patman II, Sublime II, AStott, Jeeber D, Klayman III, Lokugh III, Mr. Bug IV.
Final score: 200.
Mission Notes:
Man, that was some fast action. Aliens flying at us from all directions.

AStott becomes our fifth 20 missions/20 kills agent today, as he picks up his 20th kill on this, his 20th mission. Nice job, AStott!

It appears that Miss Terry was completely wrong! Never trust a fortune teller, that’s what I always say! :)

As our Skyranger turns east and skies up over the North Pole to return to USA COM, Klayman III notices a white streak falling towards earth through the still twilight skies well to the west of our Skyranger. A falling star, perhaps? An omen, perhaps?

[Wolfpack]

I'll be more restrained in my approach. Frankly, if I don't cover for the more aggressive types and they get killed, I ain't got a chance to come out alive anyway. So, I'll be somewhat cautious and hang back a bit.

[jerk3616]

"As our Skyranger turns east and skies up over the North Pole to return to USA COM, Klayman III notices a white streak falling towards earth through the still twilight skies well to the west of our Skyranger. A falling star, perhaps? An omen, perhaps?"

Neither...that would be me throwing myself off of a tall building after buying into that Miss Terry psychic crap. I guess now, when I become active, I should properly be called jerk II...the first X-Com soldier who commits hari kari before even reporting for duty. :D

[Godzilla Blitz]

Just a quick note. I've updated the Battle Competition rosters, and expanded the alternate list to include active agents with two kills or more. 12 agents have checked in so far, but I think we'll still need four more agents to confirm, figuring that it looks like two agents (Coffee, Raven Hawk, or Jeeber D) would drop out if they win the Agent's Choice Awards.

About 9 and a half hours left to sign up. If we don't have enough agents as of midnight CST, we'll take first come, first serve until we fill the Skyranger.

[Poli]

I'm willing. and normal.:D

[SirFozzie]

I'm in too.

[Qwikshot]

Qwikshot will be normal...

[Lokugh]

Well, if I am eligible, I'm in the battle competition.

[fantastic flying froggies]

Just caught up on the last 2 missions and...

I HIT SOMETHING !!!!

Yesssssssss ! OK, it was a UFO with a blaster launcher and I got lucky and got me an alien with that hit but still...

See, we just knew we had to stop drinking the damn alien beer...

[fantastic flying froggies]

I'm willing. and normal.:D
Now, what is wrong with this comment ???

[Qwikshot]

Qwikshot will change to aggressive, no guts no glory...

[Vince]

I love this dynasty...I was supposed to be in class for the last half hour, and had just posted here that I don't have time to catch up...but of course, I did catch up. :)

I'd like to volunteer to be an Aggressive soldier in the Combat Competition!

[NAIWF]

I'm in and normal

[JeeberD]

Who the hell locked up the blaster launcher locker so that I couldn't get multiple kills? Sabotage, I tell you...SABOTAGE!!!! ;)

[Godzilla Blitz]

December 7, 7:24 PM CST

I get word of the successful USA COM mission and breathe a sigh of relief. Miss Terry has not been wrong until now, and even though I chide myself for half-believing her, she was in part responsible for saving Kodos' life.

On a whim, I go to my phone and scan the numbers of the incoming calls. There it is. From Fargo about an hour ago. I dial the number and wait...

Miss Terry: Hello...Mr. Blitz?

She is still sobbing.

Me: Yes. I have good news. You can stop crying, Miss Terry. You were wrong. All of our agents are returning safely. No one was killed. The only bodies were those of aliens.

Silence.

Me: Miss Terry? Did you hear me? Everyone lived.

Miss Terry: Yes...I'm sorry...I'm glad for you agents, Mr. Blitz...But it was not...them I was talking about...It is too late...They are all dead, Mr. Blitz...and it is only the beginning...You have no idea.

One of the red lights on my phone starts flashing: incoming call. I ignore it.

Me: What are you talking about?

She is crying worse now.

Me: Look, let me come and see you. I'll head over. I have time now. You can explain everything.

Another light goes on. Another incoming call. I recognize the second number: EU COM. And then a third light goes on: ASIA COM. What the hell is going on? I better check.

Me: Sorry, Miss Terry, but I'll have to call you right back. It seems I've got a bunch of a calls that might be urgent. It'll be five minutes. I promise. Bye.

I hang up and reach for the button to take the EU COM call.

It was a promise I did not keep.

[Alf]

You liar !

[Godzilla Blitz]

Random Replies...

Jeeber: I accidentally hit the "ok" button before distributing all the weapons. Had to come up with something to explain why no one had a blaster launcher. :)

Vince: Thanks! I'm glad you're in.

Jerk: You funny ha ha. Where were you a year ago? We could have used you.

Ardent: Don't worry about the brownie points thingie. I think you bring a lot to the dynasty, and I'm glad you enjoy it.

Tasan: I think we're going to have enough agents, now. Sorry. I wish there was a way to get everyone to Mars.

[Glengoyne]

Just a quick update for people that haven't seen the bottom of page 6...

The Battle Competition requires a post here saying that you're in, and what kind of combat mode you prefer: aggressive, normal, cautious.

Sign me up!

[Glengoyne]

Dola,

Oh Normal I'd guess.

If I make the mission, I wouldn't want to be the guy standing next to me. Then again I haven't been mind controlled yet. Maybe these Psi ratings aren't all they are cracked up to be.

[kingfc22]

If i have any shot at the battle comp. mission (very unlikely). I'll go aggressive.

[Poli]

GB, I really wish I had paid attention to this thread earlier. :)

Revrew did a soft recruitment of me a few months back, too. :(

[kingfc22]

GB, I really wish I had paid attention to this thread earlier. :)
Along the same lines. I wish I knew of FOF sooner.

[DeToxRox]

I say Normal. It doesnt discriminate.

[JeeberD]

I hang up and reach for the button to take the EU COM call.

It was a promise I did not keep.

Uh-oh...are bases coming under attack?

[Poli]

I doubt it. GB wouldn't still be fielding offers for the mother ship if they had. :)

[JeeberD]

Unless he was trying to keep us on our toes and not give away anything that's "already happened"...

[Wolfpack]

Under attack doesn't sound like the half of it. Nuked sounds more appropriate. Then again she could be describing the next mission in which intrepid X-Com forces wipe out yet another downed alien craft.

[Godzilla Blitz]

Battle Competition Update

Just a quick update again...

There are a little over three hours left to sign up, so jump in if you're on the list.

A couple of quick thoughts. Judging from missions when I was learning the game, I'd have to say that selecting "aggressive" mode probably entails greater than a 50% chance that you will die on this mission. Normal probably will amount to about a 35% chance. Cautious would be about 10-15%. If you want to change, now's the time. Of course, given that we've got a unique mix of agent fighting styles of this mission, all those numbers may be off.

Also, if anyone wants out for whatever reason, let me know. There are still three agents to be picked by X-COM Command when all the contests are over, and agents may die between now and then, so if you've got a bad feeling about this, now is also the time to tell me you want out.

Just a reminder on how to confirm your spot on the roster...

The Battle Competition requires a post here saying that you're in, and what kind of combat mode you prefer: aggressive, normal, cautious. If you don't care about the combat mode, I'll probably put you on normal. More details are near the bottom of page 6 in this thread.

So far we've heard from the bold-faced names...

1. Patman II (15)
2. Danny Van Halen (14) Normal
3. Wolfpack (13) Cautious
4. Sublime II (12)
5. Qwikshot II (12) Aggressive
6. Coffee Warlord II (11) Normal
7. Jeeber D (11) Normal
8. Naiwf (10) Normal
9. Fat Football II (10)
10. Split Personality III (9) Aggressive
11. Breeze (8) Normal
12. Afoci (8)
13. Illinifan V (8) Cautious
14. Japherwaki II (7)

Alternates:
15. Real Deal III (7) Aggressive
16. Klayman III (5)
17. Chuck U Farley (5) Aggressive
18. Glen Goyne (5) Normal
19. Alf III (5) Normal
20. Mr. Bug IV (5) Normal
21. Blade6119 (4) Normal
22. Mike Vic (4)
23. Raven Hawk II (3) Normal
24. Vince (3) Aggressive
25. Ardent Enthusiast (3) Normal
26. Lokugh III (2) Normal
27. Katon II (2)
28. Psycho Cop II (2)
29. Hoops Guy (2)

[RealDeal]

Will this mission happen before or after the conclusion of the puzzle contest? The last thing I want to do is win the puzzle contest only to get killed because I was going aggressive in the challenge mission.

[Godzilla Blitz]

Will this mission happen before or after the conclusion of the puzzle contest? The last thing I want to do is win the puzzle contest only to get killed because I was going aggressive in the challenge mission.

The mission will happen before the end of the puzzle contest. The puzzle contest will run through tomorrow, I'm thinking. I plan on fighting and posting this mission tomorrow. You've got somewhat of a tough choice to make.

[Godzilla Blitz]

Updated stats...

The In-transit troops have actually arrived at their bases. I have to record the stats for them, and will try to do that and add them to this post as soon as I can.

X-COM II Troop Master List (After Mission 107)

USA COM

ID Name Status Rank Miss. Kills
14. Wade Moore Active Colonel 27 25
43. Achilles Active Sergeant 23 17
46. Patman II Active Captain 24 15
55. Sublime II Active Sergeant 22 12
74. AStott Active Captain 20 20
75. Alf III Active Squaddie 10 5
92. Jeeber D Active Squaddie 14 11
98. MrBug IV Active Squaddie 12 5
112. Airhog II Active Squaddie 6 1
114. Blade6119 IV WND (12) Squaddie 4 4
115. Klayman III Active Squaddie 6 5
121. Katon II Active Squaddie 4 2
129. Ardent Enthusiast Active Squaddie 4 3
133. Lokugh III Active Squaddie 4 2
143. Anxiety III Active Squaddie 3 1


EU COM

ID Name Status Rank Miss. Kills
2. jfbbis WND (Coma) Colonel 23 23
10. Kodos Active Commander 27 26
19. Revrew Active Captain 26 24
70. Naiwf Active Sergeant 16 10
89. RealDeal III Active Squaddie 13 7
90. Coffee Warlord II Active Sergeant 14 11
101. Wolfpack Active Sergeant 10 13
102. Japherwaki II Active Squaddie 11 7
105. Swaggs Active Sergeant 12 10
110. Breeze Active Squaddie 6 8
116. Chuck U Farley Active Squaddie 6 5
122. Mike Vic Active Squaddie 4 4
123. Vince Active Squaddie 4 3
128. ShaefIllini Active Squaddie 2 1
131. Raven Hawk II Active Squaddie 2 3


ASIA COM

ID Name Status Rank Miss. Kills
35. Jeff Nights II Active Captain 27 15
39. Thomkal II Active Sergeant 22 19
41. Fat Football II Active Sergeant 20 10
45. Danny VanHalen Active Sergeant 21 14
52. Qwikshot II Active Captain 22 12
84. Split Pers III Active Sergeant 10 9
93. Afoci Active Squaddie 10 8
96. Illinifan V Active Squaddie 11 8
109. Glengoyne Active Squaddie 7 5
117. Psycho Cop II Active Squaddie 4 2
118. Calis Active Squaddie 7 1
124. Sir Fozzie II Active Squaddie 5 1
127. Hoops Guy Active Squaddie 4 2
134. BYU II Active Squaddie 5 0
137. FF Froggies Active Squaddie 4 0



SAM COM

ID Name Status Rank Miss. Kills
71. Wignasty Active Squaddie 7 3
130. Peregrine Active Rookie 0 0
132. Northwood DK Active Rookie 0 0



AFRICA COM

ID Name Status Rank Miss. Kills
59. Daimyo II WND (10) Squaddie 9 5
94. Data King III Active Squaddie 5 2
125. Chief Rum IV Active Rookie 0 0
136. Barkeep Active Rookie 0 0
138. Blade IV Active Rookie 0 0
139. Tasan II Active Rookie 0 0
141. Render III Active Rookie 0 0


X-COM II Troop Attributes

Name TUs Sta Hlt Brv Rea Fir Thw Str PsD PsS
2. jfbbis 78 85 61 30 35 88 58 61 75 16
10. Kodos 80 93 60 50 62 85 74 64 75 20
14. Wade Moore 81 84 59 30 59 93 72 68 86 21
19. Revrew 79 76 57 30 38 68 61 67 91 31
35. Jeff Nights II 78 84 58 60 33 68 66 60 97 29
39. Thomkal II 76 95 60 30 56 53 61 56 60 25
41. Fat Football II 71 75 46 50 38 71 73 57 99 23
43. Achilles 75 76 61 10 46 81 79 58 72 24
45. Danny VanHalen 78 85 50 10 42 63 79 52 28 21
46. Patman II 78 74 57 60 50 52 79 59 39 20
52. Qwikshot II 76 81 49 10 58 78 65 57 75 22
55. Sublime II 77 80 51 10 40 76 78 63 59 19
59. Daimyo II 65 60 48 30 47 70 64 43
70. Naiwf 76 72 53 50 40 63 69 49 26 16
71. Wignasty 64 45 37 20 38 61 72 44
74. AStott 77 64 56 50 55 74 63 61 92 18
75. Alf III 62 61 40 40 52 51 57 46 18 22
84. Split Pers III 71 71 47 30 41 64 67 44 30 20
89. RealDeal III 75 76 40 60 47 68 68 56 48 24
90. Coffee Warlord II 76 85 51 60 38 73 69 46 25 24
92. Jeeber D 68 65 50 20 31 63 78 49 77 23
93. Afoci 65 61 42 30 40 47 55 49 79 17
94. Data King III 63 52 31 50 36 52 58 35
96. Illinifan V 57 56 50 50 56 55 67 48 88 21
98. Mr. Bug IV 65 69 50 10 34 71 66 41
101. Wolfpack 73 76 42 40 38 67 59 46 65 23
102. Japherwaki II 69 81 43 20 32 53 53 50 80 22
105. Swaggs 71 77 47 60 51 78 69 51 83 36
109. Glengoyne 72 73 48 30 34 68 53 47 3 21
110. Breeze 65 51 41 60 31 72 54 42 59 16
112. Airhog II 56 67 30 60 56 44 54 29
114. Blade6119 IV 56 47 44 10 37 74 61 33
115. Klaymn III 63 80 47 30 34 72 58 37
116. Chuck U Farley 58 69 36 40 55 68 77 39 55 18
117. Psycho Cop II 53 64 40 10 60 67 50 44 55 19
118. Calis 58 57 26 50 39 55 73 35 50 22
121. Katon II 54 54 29 40 59 69 54 39
122. Mike Vic 67 50 45 10 32 44 53 43
123. Vince 60 69 31 10 45 66 57 43
124. Sir Fozzie II 60 69 32 10 31 68 50 25 81 24
125. Chief Rum IV 55 46 25 30 50 52 63 38
127. Hoops Guy 57 54 43 40 41 59 65 28 78 21
128. ShaefIllini 62 53 43 10 60 59 64 36
129. Ardent Enthusiast 66 67 35 40 48 65 72 40
130. Peregrine 55 45 37 30 35 45 64 34
131. Raven Hawk II 59 46 33 20 31 68 66 43
132. Northwood DK 51 40 27 30 54 48 56 40
133. BYU II 52 69 33 10 53 58 61 38
134. Lokugh III 57 63 42 60 40 48 55 37
136. Barkeep 52 57 33 30 34 55 73 32
137. FF Froggies 57 53 41 10 57 45 75 39
138. Blade IV 58 42 30 30 51 40 49 23
139. Tasan II 60 50 38 10 37 54 79 20
141. Render III 59 64 27 50 42 46 53 22
143. Anxiety III 56 60 42 40 38 69 68 34

Key: TUs = Time Units; Sta = Stamina; Hlt = Health; Brv = Bravery; Rea = Reactions
Fir = Firing; Thw = Throwing; Str = Strength; PsD = PSI Defense; PsS = PSI Skill

Support Personnel

Head of Research: Craptacular
(Current researching focus: Heavy Plasma)
Head of Engineering: Sterling Ice II
(Current manufacturing focus: Flying Suits, Hover Tank, Avenger Fighter)
US Interceptor Pilot: CapnMorgan
AF Interceptor Pilot: Superman
AS Interceptor Pilot: Toddiec IV
EU Firestorm Pilot: Sachmo IV



Attribute Leaders (After Mission 107)

Time Units: (81) Wade Moore
Stamina: (95) Thomkal II
Health: (61) Jfbbis, Achilles
Bravery: (60) (Nine tied)
Reactions: (62) Kodos
Firing: (93) Wade Moore
Throwing: (79) (Three tied)
Strength: (68) Wade Moore
PSI Defense: (99) Fat Football II
PSI Strength: (36) Swaggs


Attribute Doggies (After Mission 107)

Time Units: (51) Northwood DK
Stamina: (40) Northwood DK
Health: (25) Chief Rum IV
Bravery: (10) (14 tied)
Reactions: (31) (four tied)
Firing: (40) Blade IV
Throwing: (50) Sir Fozzie II, Psycho Cop II
Strength: (20) Tasan II
PSI Defense: ( 3) Glen Goyne
PSI Strength: (16) Naiwf, Breeze, Jfbbis


Top Ten Kills Leaders

1. Kodos 26
2. Wade Moore 25
3. Revrew 24
4. Jfbbis 23
5. Astott 20
6. Thomkal II 19
7. Klayman (KIA) 18
8. Achilles 17
9. Shorty (KIA) 16
10. Patman II 15
10. Jeff Nights II 15


Waiting List

ID Name Base Status Rank LBrvOK? OptUp?
144. Rich II - In Transit Rookie Yes No
145. Zippy III - On Call Rookie Yes Yes
146. Gi - On Call Rookie Yes Yes
147. Tellistto - In Transit Rookie Yes Yes
148. CT Homer II - On Call Rookie Yes Yes
149. Rawisdan II - On Call Rookie Yes Yes
150. Gbk - In Transit Rookie Yes Yes
151. The Herd II - On Call Rookie Yes Yes
152. 3ric V - In Transit Rookie Yes Yes
153. Fonzie III - In Transit Rookie Yes Yes
154. Condors III - On Call Rookie Yes Yes
155. Dawgfan - In Transit Rookie Yes Yes
156. Travis V - In Transit Rookie Yes Yes
157. Kingfc II - In Transit Rookie Yes Yes
158. Tucker III - In Transit Rookie Yes Yes
159. Almighty II - On Call Rookie Yes Yes
160. The Time II - On Call Rookie Yes Yes
161. Jerk - In Transit Rookie Yes Yes

[RealDeal]

I think I have a better chance of winning the puzzle contest that of both surviving the mission and racking up the most kills.

[Godzilla Blitz]

I think I have a better chance of winning the puzzle contest that of both surviving the mission and racking up the most kills.

Would you like to move back to "cautious" or "normal" or bow out of the mission altogether?

[Poli]

Ahem. I'm no longer "normal". I'm 'cautious". I want on that plane, dang it. I can't be dieing now.

[Poli]

Dola, like it matters. I'm like 5th on the alternate "confirmed" list. :(

[jerk3616]

Hooray! Soon jerk won't be some faceless soldier...he will be a faceless soldier with his stats posted. I sure hope my first jerkling does the family proud.

[Godzilla Blitz]

Update

Holy crap. Take a look. This is what the phone calls were calling about…

From the New York Times Special Edition…

Aliens Nuke Moscow!

Millions Feared Dead

Aliens Threaten More Bombings

Massive Riots Rage Worldwide

http://home.comcast.net/~mwsmart/XCOMArt6.jpg
Moscow, 18 minutes after an alien nuclear missile hit. Photo: Aeroflot

8 December 2003 – (AP, New York) On December 8, 5:17AM local time (December 7, 8:17PM New York), Alien forces detonated a massive nuclear-grade missile in the heart of Moscow. A massive explosion followed, causing what Russian authorities have called the “total destruction of the city.” Millions are feared dead in the blast, which has been estimated at 150-kilotons, roughly 10 times the explosive force used on Hiroshima. It is believed that Russian President Igut Nohednau has been killed, as well as most members of his top cabinet. The space-based attack is the apparent fulfillment of the Alien Alliance’s threat issued late last week.

“Let the blood of the Russian citizens lie on the hands of the United Nations and those nations that support the terrorist X-COM forces,” stated Sectoid Leader, the Alien Ambassador to Earth, in a prepared statement released shortly after the blast. “For too long we have endured the death of our innocent citizens as they travel over Earth. We have given you every chance to join us in building a brighter future, to explore the universe together, and to create a world of lasting peace and prosperity. At every junction you have chosen to reply with violence. Enough. You will be given one more chance: capitulate in full within one week—your deadline is noon Greenwich time on December 15—or we will begin launching one ballistic missile a day at randomly selected major cities of the world, and continue until you are all dead or you surrender.”

Details on the extent of the destruction are currently unavailable, as rescue workers and military forces cannot get within ten miles of the city due to high winds, fire, and radioactivity caused by the blast. It is believed, however, that all life within a five-mile radius of ground zero has been eradicated.

There is no word yet on the United Nations reply to this second ultimatum, but world leaders are gathering at an emergency summit in New York as this edition went to press.

World reaction to the bombing was rapid and violent. Riots between pro-alien supporters and anti-alien supporters broke out in most metropolitan areas across the planet as news of the strike spread. Enforcement officials in New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago all report fierce, widespread clashes that have spiraled into full-scale riots. It is feared that thousands more have died in the violence that still is raging out of control. “There are thousands of people fighting in the streets,” reported Maggie Numbpluss, Chief of Chicago Police. “We simply don’t have the personnel to control (the violence). They’re killing each other with bricks and sticks. It’s beyond anything I have ever seen.” Large-scale clashes have also been reported in Tokyo, Madrid, and Rio De Janeiro.

Related Stories: Pope Calls for Calm (page 1A); Gatesville Coach a Moron? You make the call. (http://dynamic2.gamespy.com/~fof/forums/showpost.php?p=504979&postcount=203) (page 1C); Yankees’ Owner Doubles Price of Spaceship Tickets to $10 million. (page 1F).

[Poli]

Makes me want to curse.

Jeeber friggin D.

[jerk3616]

That would explain the falling star...

Bastards. I really am starting to hate those aliens...

No offense, Kodos. :D

[hoopsguy]

If I'm able to get into the combat mission then I'll go cautious. Probably would have gone at least normal before the psychic showed up, but may as well try to preserve some decent PSI abilities, bag the kills that come to me, and see if we can earn our way on at the tail end of the Mars picks.

[hoopsguy]

By the way, I think Detroit would probably be a better choice for rioting than Chicago. Just ask Jimmy Kimmel :eek:

[jerk3616]

By the way, I think Detroit would probably be a better choice for rioting than Chicago. Just ask Jimmy Kimmel :eek:

Or nuking.

[hoopsguy]

I like the cut of jerk's jip, if that doesn't sound too disturbing.

[Godzilla Blitz]

Update

December 8 PM

I have been summoned to the United Nations for the emergency talks. Apparently there is a strong movement calling for surrender to the alien forces. By 10:00 CST, I am flying for Manhattan.

December 9 AM

In order to prevent the surrender of Earth’s forces to the aliens, I am forced to describe in detail our plans to launch an attack on Mars to the dignitaries at the United Nations. The classified meetings last throughout the day.

In the end, the UN gives X-COM until 11AM on December 15. If we have not sent word that the Alien Command Center has been destroyed by then, the UN will unconditionally surrender to the aliens. The Avenger will be complete on the afternoon of the 14th. We will launch as soon as possible after that, most likely within minutes of the last bolt being driven in. The Crappy Hyper Drive will get us to Mars within minutes. We should beat the deadline by almost twelve hours.

God help us if Sterling Ice can’t get that Avenger done on time.

Militarily, the day passes quietly. There are no UFOs sighted throughout the day.

World attention is focused on the events in Moscow, where an estimated 4 million people have died from the blast. The images on TV are stunning. There is nothing left of the city.

Riots continued throughout the day in major cities everywhere. The media consensus is that the participants are calling for the destruction of X-COM and total capitulation to the aliens.

In minor news, Sectoid Leader was deported to London after the bombing. Rumor has it that he is in the British base there. Maybe it’s time we dropped in for a visit.

December 10

As military and rescue forces try to pick up the pieces in Moscow, the war continues for us. Shortly after midnight, Africa COM’s Interceptor shoots down a large Sectoid scout over coastal Africa. We launch our EU COM Skyranger for the clean up.

On board:
Raven Hawk II, Japherwaki II, Real Deal III, Naiwf, Coffee Warlord II, Swaggs, Mike Vic, Chuck U Farley, ShaefIllini

They’ll strike at dawn.

Get some payback, men.

As soon as this mission is finished, we’re going after Sectoid Leader and the British base.

With luck, both of these missions should go up tomorrow, from which point we’ll play out the last days in semi-realtime: one game day = one real day.

It is now D-Day minus four days.

[Raven Hawk]

Raven Hawk II checks his gear as he has become accostomed to just prior to Skyranger lift off. He notices something out of the ordinary, stuffed deep into his backpack. Raven pulls out what appears to be a piece buckskin wrapped tightly. Upon further examination, the buckskin is wrapped tightly around something. Raven cautiously unravels the buckskin to reveal an old antler hunting knife with a with a decorative sheath made of bearskin and adorned with bear teeth. Raven immediately recognized the knife as his fathers and vaguely remembers the story.

"Son," said Raven Hawk Sr, "one day when I am gone, this will be yours . . . draw in the most dire of times to protect your people. My father passed this to me and his father to him before that. The bear teeth are enchanted by an old medicine man and as long as you wear the scabbard, bullets cannot harm you. This dagger protected our people before, and it will do so again. If not in my hands, then in yours . . ."

Raven fought back a tear and quickly checked to see if anybody else was looking. He drew the blade from its sheath. There, written in green blood upon the ancient blade . . .

"AVENGE ME"

THERE WILL BE BLOOD TONIGHT!

[Lokugh]

Move Lokugh to Agressive, I think, if he is on the mission. He will take his chances in order to avenge his Russian comrades. And yes, if it comes up, I will volunteer for the British base assault.

[jerk3616]

Raven Hawk II checks his gear as he has become accostomed to just prior to Skyranger lift off. He notices something out of the ordinary, stuffed deep into his backpack. Raven pulls out what appears to be a piece buckskin wrapped tightly. Upon further examination, the buckskin is wrapped tightly around something. Raven cautiously unravels the buckskin to reveal an old antler hunting knife with a with a decorative sheath made of bearskin and adorned with bear teeth. Raven immediately recognized the knife as his fathers and vaguely remembers the story.

"Son," said Raven Hawk Sr, "one day when I am gone, this will be yours . . . draw in the most dire of times to protect your people. My father passed this to me and his father to him before that. The bear teeth are enchanted by an old medicine man and as long as you wear the scabbard, bullets cannot harm you. This dagger protected our people before, and it will do so again. If not in my hands, then in yours . . ."

Raven fought back a tear and quickly checked to see if anybody else was looking. He drew the blade from its sheath. There, written in green blood upon the ancient blade . . .

"AVENGE ME"

THERE WILL BE BLOOD TONIGHT!

Nicely done. Assless chaps I can do...creative writing I have to work on.

[Raven Hawk]

Nicely done. Assless chaps I can do...creative writing I have to work on.Lol! It appears that you are comfortable with the Assless Chaps also. Not many people can pull off that look. :eek:

[Lokugh]

The assless chaps look is sooooo 1985. Everyone knows the stylish alien prison 'ho wears the PVC g-string and leather bondage mask. I mean, really. If you are going to go for the alien pogey bait look, you have to wear the uniform. Oh, and a full body wax job is required. Sectoid Leader is turned off by hairy humans...

[JeeberD]

...Russian President Igut Nohednau...


He's missing a whole lot more than his head.

Those alien bastards will PAY!!!!

[Poli]

Kill them!

[Godzilla Blitz]

Battle Competition Final Rosters

Well, here we are. The final fourteen contestants for the battle competition...

Danny Van Halen (14) Normal
Wolfpack (13) Cautious
Qwikshot II (12) Aggressive
Naiwf (10) Normal
Split Personality III (9) Aggressive
Breeze (8) Normal
Illinifan V (8) Cautious
Real Deal III (7) Normal
Chuck U Farley (5) Aggressive
Glen Goyne (5) Normal
Alf III (5) Normal
Mr. Bug IV (5) Normal
Blade6119 (4) Normal (have to check wound status; might be unavailable)
Vince (3) Aggressive

Alternates
Ardent Enthusiast (3) Normal
Lokugh III (2) Aggressive

Take a look and make sure I've got everything the way you want it, as I've already started moving agents to EU COM to launch this mission as soon as the Skyranger gets back from its current mission. This mission will launch later this morning.

Last chance to bow out or make changes.

Real: I wasn't sure how to interpret you last post about the mission. I'll leave you in and at aggressive for now, but let me know if you want to make a change.

[Poli]

GET ME IN THERE!

[Raven Hawk]

Ardent your best chance will be for Real Deal to get the Twisted Puzzle win before this mission leaves. Then you'd be in like Flynn.

[RealDeal]

change me from aggressive to normal.

[JeeberD]

With the way that RealDeal is cleaning up the Twisted Puzzle competition I would have though he would have gone ahead and just dropped out of this mission...

[Poli]

DROP OUT REAL DEAL!

[JeeberD]

Hmmm...wonder why you want him to drop out? It's purely in his best interests, right AE? :p

[RealDeal]

I would drop out, but the problem is Shaef keeps coming on, and I don't know how long the trivia competition will last, or if GB will make the last round worth 100 points or do it at 4:00 a.m. in the morning or something like that.

I obviously don't want to take someone else's slot on the challenge mission or risk my life if I already have a ticket to Mars in the trivia contest.

[Poli]

I heart you RealDeal. :)

[sterlingice]

I heart you RealDeal. :)
You're not getting his bud light, Ardent.

SI

[Godzilla Blitz]

Quick update

Ok, we just got "unstuck" with the problem with my work project, so I should be finishing that up in a bit and be back to truly important matters here right after that.

For now, though...

Let's do this with the Base Assault. Blade6119 is healthy now, so he'll go. That would leave Ardent and Lokugh out of the mission, but...

There are two people on the list that I was definitely going to select as part of the Mars Assault. I'll post them shortly and then pull them off the base assault. That'll free up spots for Ardent and Lokugh.

I'll be back in about an hour to do that, and then we should be able to get started on the base mission.

Just got to finish this work thingie and then get some food in my stomach.

[Vince]

Though I'd really love to see my guy head off to Mars, and I have a pretty good track record so far (more kills than missions...how many officers can claim that?), I think it wouldn't be fair to those that have followed the series from the get-go. My participation has been streaky at best, so I'm actually going to take myself out of the Combat Competition - you can slot someone else in there instead of me, GB.

[Katon]

If there's a slot available - not sure, with all these changes - I'll go. Cautiously.

[tucker342]

wow... I didn't even know that the aliens did that in X-Com... How much of the details did the game tell you?

[Poli]

I'm on the plane! GB, if it's not too late, I did request earlier to be changed to "cautious".

AE

[hoopsguy]

I'm also looking on the Combat Competition if a slot is open. Cautious, as indicated earlier.

[Godzilla Blitz]

Vince: Very nice gesture of you. We'll free up that spot.

Of the number of agents that want to go, Katon and Hoops Guy have the highest current kill total at 2. We go to the tie-breaker, which is family pedigree, and Katon's dad's two kills gives him the edge over Hoops Guy who doesn't have a dad in the game. So...

Katon is on the flight.

Sorry to those that can't make it. I wish there was a way to get everyone on the Skyranger, but we're going without a tank as it is. We've still got the lottery to look forward to, so don't give up hope.

Time to get this show on the road.

[jerk3616]

All these agents treading cautiously...

Whatever happened to "exterminate with extreme prejudice?"

Like I can talk anyways...the only thing I've killed is myself. :)

[Godzilla Blitz]

Mars Strike Team Omega

Our next two members of Strike Team Omega:

1. Commander Kodos
2. Captain Revrew
3. Colonel Jfbbis
4. Colonel Wade Moore
5. Captain Jeff Nights II
6. Captain AStott
7. Sergeant Thomkal II
8. Sergeant Achilles
9. Sergeant Swaggs
10. Sergeant Coffee Warlord II
11. Squaddie Jeeber D
12. Squaddie Raven Hawk II
13. Captain Qwikshot II
Qwikshot has been an active and steady agent over the course of his career, has always kept us positive, and has shown solid cool under PSI pressure. While he doesn't have the high kill totals of some of our agents and could have difficulties if we sustain casualties, his long track record of excellence makes him a solid choice for the Mars mission.

14. Squaddie Illinifan V
The Illinifan family looks to have finally gotten things right with their latest X-COM member. Illinifan has nearly perfect close combat genetic talent: high bravery, quick reactions, and rock-solid PSI skills. Although he lacks the experience of many of our Omega team members, he brings a lot of potential to the table, and has performed admirably in over ten missions.

Welcome aboard, men.

Next up...
The Battle Competition. 14 agents fighting a point-scored base assault to earn one of two seats on the Avenger. This should be a dilly!

[Godzilla Blitz]

Battle Competition Final Rosters, Version 2

Well, here we are. Vince has graciously opened up his spot to allow Katon II on board, and Qwikshot II and Illinifan V have been selected for the Mars mission by command choice, so...

The final fourteen contestants for the battle competition:
Danny Van Halen (14) Normal
Wolfpack (13) Cautious
Naiwf (10) Normal
Split Personality III (9) Aggressive
Breeze (8) Normal
Real Deal III (7) Normal
Chuck U Farley (5) Aggressive
Glen Goyne (5) Normal
Alf III (5) Normal
Mr. Bug IV (5) Normal
Blade6119 (4) Normal
Ardent Enthusiast (3) Cautious
Lokugh III (2) Aggressive
Katon II (2) Cautious

This should really be the last chance to make changes, etc. Please let me know if I've got everything ok. Again, keep in mind that I usually play the game cautiously, so "normal" and "aggressive" stances will make things much more dangerous for you.

I'm going to try and play this mission tonight, and post results after every couple of turns. It'll take time (a few hours perhaps), and I won't be able to start until about 9:30 CST, but I'll keep plugging away as best I can. I'd like to finish before I go to sleep.

Before we do that, though, I've got to post the story of our latest mission to Africa.

[Raven Hawk]

Way to go, Qwikshot and Illinifan! Good luck to all in the battle. Anybody placing odds on these fellows?

[RealDeal]

I'll give up my seat on the challenge mission and hope I win the trivia contest.

[Godzilla Blitz]

I'll give up my seat on the challenge mission and hope I win the trivia contest.

Cool.

Hoops Guy, you're in!

A big hand for the magnanimous gesture by Real Deal!

Speaking of trivia contests, I'm working on the next questions now. I'll post a time hint shortly.

[Poli]

GB, I'd like to request (again) that I be moved to "cautious".

[Poli]

X-Com game question:

Since I joined the game, I got a copy and have been playing on my own as well. Here's my problem. I have yet to figure out how to use that blaster launcher! I have researched both the launcher and the bomb, but I can't seem to get it work right. Is there a certain thing I have to do? Do I have to have the launcher in one hand and the bomb in the other? I'm clueless.

Thanks in advance for your help,

AE

[Godzilla Blitz]

GB, I'd like to request (again) that I be moved to "cautious".

Aggressive, armed with a tooth brush, and wearing an Big Bird suit?

Check! Got it!

[Raven Hawk]

Aggressive, armed with a tooth brush, and wearing an Big Bird suit?

Check! Got it!
Classic. :D

[Poli]

Must kill GB. :)

[Poli]

http://www.sassyclassics.com/images/figurals/musicrhinestonenotes.jpg
'Cause I'm leaving on a jet plane
I don't know when I'll be back again

http://www.sassyclassics.com/images/figurals/musicrhinestonenotes.jpg

[Godzilla Blitz]

Must kill GB. :)

Will kill AE. :)

[Poli]

Tell me how to use that blaster launcher thingee. :)

[Blade6119]

oh god, ardent and i on a mission together....death must ensue

[Raven Hawk]

Tell me how to use that blaster launcher thingee. :)
It all begins by not acting like Commander Asshat.

[Godzilla Blitz]

108th Mission: Sectoids Below the Equator

The EU COM Skyranger races south, for coastal Kenya and the large Sectoid scout that went down there. This will be our first mission since the aliens have dropped the nuclear bomb on Moscow, and the men inside the Skyranger today are determined to exact some revenge—however small—for the injustice that has occurred in Russia.

The men go through their preparations for the dawn assault. We’ve been on a run recently, and as a result our assault teams now consist of solid, experienced agents. Today is no exception, as every man on board has killed an alien in combat.

Sergeant Swaggs will command our troops today.

The green light goes on and the craft begins to drop to the Kenyan farmland below.

Left Side:
1. Raven Hawk II (Blaster Launcher, Flying Suit)
2. Breeze (Heavy Plasma, Flying Suit)
3. ShaefIllini (Heavy Plasma, Flying Suit)
4. Mike Vic (Heavy Plasma, Flying Suit)
5. Coffee Warlord II (Heavy Plasma & PSI Amp, Flying Suit)

Right Side:
1. Japherwaki II (Heavy Plasma, Flying Suit)
2. Real Deal III (Heavy Plasma & PSI Amp, Flying Suit)
3. Naiwf (Heavy Plasma, Flying Suit)
4. Swaggs (PSI Amp & Heavy Plasma, Flying Suit)
5. Chuck U Farley (Heavy Plasma, Flying Suit)

As the Skyranger falls through light clouds, the men scan the cool, dawn landscape below. Coastal Kenya is predominantly farmland, which is a battlefield we are well familiar with. We can easily see the cross-shaped UFO: it will lie directly in front of our exit, about 30 meters away. The door is on the right of the craft, almost in line with the exit of our craft. This could be a very good position for us to work from, as we basically have a great firing position on the door without even leaving the Skyranger. With the exception of two-story structure that will lie beside our Skyranger’s right side, the rest of the battlefield that we can make out is flat fields. The area beyond the nose of the Skyranger is secure ground.

The Skyranger drops the final meters and hits the ground. The ramp falls away and thuds onto the warm Kenyan soil. Silence.

Our tank exits the Skyranger, spins, and spots nothing. It goes vertical and starts sweeping over the house to our right. As it does this, Breeze and Real Deal III exit the Skyranger and take up positions at the landing gear.

Our Hovertank spots no aliens around the house. It turns and begins a wide arc over the battlefield. Past the UFO, to the right, we can now see two more two-story buildings of some sort. Breeze moves to a low stone wall on the left of our Skyranger. Real Deal heads for the house on the right. Naiwf and Mike Vic are out next. They begin a slow advance through the air toward the UFO doors. We can now see a small hole in the roof of the UFO, which should allow us to dump ordinance inside.

Movement! Our tank spots a Sectoid, in the field to the left of the UFO, about 40 meters from Breeze. Breeze picks up the Sectoid on his HUD, aims, and fires. Plasma clangs off the side of the UFO as the Sectoid drops to a knee to return fire. Before it can get a shot off, Breeze lays it flat on its back with a plasma blast. The creature’s mangled chest is testament to the force of the hit. X-COM 1, Aliens 0.

We continue deploying. Shortly, we hear the door of a building close. Humm. The one on our right, or one of the one’s past the UFO? Real Deal cautiously enters the house on our right to flush anything out. Raven Hawk II exits the Skyranger, swings around the nose of the craft, and quickly sets up a firing position with the Blaster Launcher. Our Hovertank drifts towards the houses that lie past the UFO, and spots an open first-floor door inside the left one. That door was closed when our Hovertank saw it a moment ago! Raven Hawk plots a firing course with the Launcher and pulls the trigger. The missile races past the Skyranger and UFO, then slams into the outer wall of the first floor of the house. The massive explosion roars through the first floor, incinerating everything in its path. We hear the scream of a Sectoid dying inside! Nice shot Raven! Not a knife kill, but a kill nonetheless. X-COM 2, Aliens 0.

We continue deploying. As our Hovertank works through the area around the buildings past the UFO, Coffee Warlord II exits the Skyranger and moves to Raven Hawk, where the two men quickly exchange weapons. Japherwaki II exits the Skyranger, joins Breeze, and together the two of them advance toward the fields to the left of the UFO. Chuck U Farley and ShaefIllini exit the Skyranger and begin a slow advance on the ground toward the UFO door, while Mike Vic and Naiwf continue toward the same target in the air. Real Deal works more quickly through the house on our right. Swaggs waits for the exit area to clear.

Suddenly, our tank spots a Sectoid inside the UFO, through a rent in the outer wall! Coffee isn’t ready with the Blaster Missile yet, and no one else has a shot. Swaggs, however, picks up the alien on his HUD, punches in the coordinates on his PSI Amp, sets the meter on “Mind Control”, and pulls the trigger. A wave of PSI energy rolls out of the Skyranger bay and washes over the UFO…

Got him! We’ve mind controlled a Sectoid Navigator inside the UFO! Cool! Swaggs speaks into the PSI Amp and orders the alien to look around the interior of the UFO. Bingo! There’s one more alien in here. Next, he has the alien toss its heavy plasma away and start marching toward the UFO exit. The fun doesn’t last long, though, as the other Sectoid in the UFO clues in to what’s going on, turns to our Sectoid, and fires from ten feet away. The plasma cuts right through our creature and comes out the other side in a green gush. Our alien drops to the ground, dead. X-COM 3, Aliens 0.

Coffee finally gets set up with the Blaster Launcher. He quickly plots a firing course through the hole in the UFO roof and pulls the trigger. The missile races for the UFO, darts up, then disappears through the hole. An instant later we hear a muffled rumble from inside the UFO. A jet of smoke comes spewing out of the hole in the UFO roof. We can also see a couple of new holes in the roof from the blast. Unfortunately, we don’t hear any screams. Apparently Coffee missed? With a blaster launcher?

As the roar from the explosion dies away, Mike, ShaefIllini, Chuck, and Naiwf suddenly find themselves under fire from a Sectoid charging us from the undamaged building past the UFO. Plasma just misses our men. We return fire instantly. All four men approaching the UFO—even Swaggs in the Skyranger—have shots at the alien. A wall of plasma goes streaking toward the charging Sectoid. It gets five feet closer to us when a blast from Swaggs blows its left leg off at the hip. The alien tumbles screaming to the ground. Green blood pours out of the creature onto the rich Kenyan soil. Good fertilizer. The alien is dead within seconds. X-COM 4, Aliens 0.

Things fall quiet after that. Real clears the house, our Hovertank clears the buildings past the UFO, and none of the remaining unexplored pockets on the battlefield hold any hidden aliens. Time to get any Sectoids left in the UFO, most likely just the one we saw before. We’ll try to go right in through the holes in the roof.

Mike Vic will lead the way. Naiwf will go right in on his heels. The two men take up positions on the roof of the UFO.

On three. One…two…three!

Mike jumps for the hole and drops into the murky UFO. He lands, spins, and spots a Sectoid near the navigation panels of the craft. Both combatants twist their weapons to fire, but the Sectoid is a fraction faster. A blast of plasma rips Mike’s left arm off at the joint and sends his heavy plasma flying. Mike turns to jump for cover, but a second blast nails him in the hip and rips through the armor, punching a deep hole in his thigh. He falls to the floor of the UFO, blood draining from his body. Naiwf is right on his heels into the hole, though, and this time the Sectoid is a fraction slow. Naiwf drills him with three consecutive plasma shots that send him flying backwards into the navigation panels. The alien slides to the floor, dead. X-COM 5, Aliens 0.

And that is the last alien. Our threat sensors turn green.

Naiwf quickly checks for a pulse on Mike Vic: none. Damn it, we’ve lost one. X-COM 5, Aliens.

Kills: Swaggs, 1; Naiwf, 1; Breeze, 1; Raven Hawk II, 1.
KIA: Mike Vic.
Wounded: None .
Attribute Improvements: Swaggs, Naiwf, Breeze, Raven Hawk II.
Final score: Not sure.
Mission Notes:
Not only did Coffee not kill the alien in the UFO with the blaster launcher, he apparently did not even hit the alien. This has to go down as one of the worst shots in X-COM history. Let’s hope it’s not an omen for Coffee’s performance on Mars.

I think I was getting overconfident after that run of missions with no agents killed. I should have punched a hole in the UFO wall and gone in that way. Or at least tossed grenades in through the roof. There was no need to risk an assault at the end. Stupid mistake that I shouldn’t be making after 100-plus missions. Sorry, Mike.

[Poli]

It all begins by not acting like Commander Asshat.Seriously, though, is there a way to load it or something? Every time I click to fire it the only option it gives me is to "throw".

[Fonzie]

oh god, ardent and i on a mission together....death must ensue

I rather suspect hilarity will ensue. :)

[Godzilla Blitz]

Seriously, though, is there a way to load it or something? Every time I click to fire it the only option it gives me is to "throw".

You've got to load it.

1. Put a blaster launcher in an agent's hand.
2. Click on a blaster missile.
3. Drag the missile to the launcher.
4. Click on the launcher.

You've got to have enough time units left to load it.

[MikeVic]

:( Unfortunately, MikeVic died in combat recently.. fortunately, he had a son back at home... a son that chooses to exact revenge for his father's death!

[Glengoyne]

:( Unfortunately, MikeVic died in combat recently.. fortunately, he had a son back at home... a son that chooses to exact revenge for his father's death!
X-Com agents breed like rabbits.

[Raven Hawk]

X-Com agents breed like rabbits.
I think it would be more accurate to say rabbits breed like X-Com agents. :D

[Poli]

Woot! Thanks, GB!

[Lokugh]

That's ok Mike, I suspect my grandson will be joining you in X-COM heaven soon. He's probably going to die in Britain, but he plans to take the Sectoids with him, so perhaps we will have plenty of servants in the afterlife :)

[Godzilla Blitz]

Ok, let's get started. It's going to take me a few minutes to get the game to the point where we can attack the base, then instead of writing a typical mission, I'm going to take it from the point of the action's start. I'll play then make a post here after each couple of turns.

Here's the rules and scoring system:

* Fourteen of you have been selected to assault the sole remaining alien base, in England. All fourteen of you have been given heavy plasmas, two grenades, and a medi-kit. We will take blaster launchers, but will store them to the side unless we lose 9 agents, at which time any agent may pick up and use them.

* Instead of me selecting the order of deployment, I will be using random dice rolls to determine who is first down the grav-lift, etc. On bases missions some of you will get placed by the computer on the ground floor already. I'll attempt to bring those agents back up without firing.

* I almost always try to spread out the kills over a number of agents so as to maximize our total attribute gains. However, on this mission, it’ll be every man for himself, for as many kills as he can get. I will always push you to get a kill.

* You all have chosen a preferred style of play. You have selected either: (1) Aggressive (move forward as fast as possible toward through your assigned sector with no regard for defensive reactions or flanks); (2) Normal (move through your assigned sector often with regard for reactive fire, but with little regard for getting outflanked; (3) Cautious (move through your sector always considering reactive fire, and never allow the potential to get outflanked).

* The top two agents will get a ticket on the Mars mission.

Point Scoring
Kill Alien or Mind-Controlled Agent: 2 points
Hit Alien or Mind-Controlled Agent (but not register a kill): 1 point
Confirmed Kill of a Blaster-Launcher Alien: 1 bonus point
Treat Fellow Agents’ Wounds: 1 point
Earn Angel’s Wings: 1 point
Be the first agent into the Command Center who survives the mission: 2 points
Be the second agent into the Command Center who survives the mission: 1 point
Lose Morale Due to a PSI attack, forcing us to order you to drop your weapons until you regain composure: -1 point
Freeze: -2 points
Go Berserk: -4 points
Get Mind Controlled: -8 points
While Mind Controlled or Berserking, Kill Fellow Agent = -20 points
Get killed: Disqualified

Our agents
Danny Van Halen Normal
Wolfpack Cautious
Naiwf Normal
Split Personality III Aggressive
Breeze Normal
Chuck U Farley Aggressive
Glen Goyne Normal
Alf III Normal
Mr. Bug IV Normal
Blade6119 Normal
Ardent Enthusiast Cautious
Lokugh III Aggressive
Katon II Cautious
Hoops Guy Cautious

[Godzilla Blitz]

Ok, I've got all the agents into the base. We've got a slight delay as we finish up the Puzzle Contest. Real Deal vs. ShaefIllini. They'll be done at 10:10.

[kingfc22]

GB - what would happen if everyone was DQ'd? Just curious...

[Godzilla Blitz]

GB - what would happen if everyone was DQ'd? Just curious...

To be honest, I wouldn't be surprised if we came close to losing. We're not using our blaster launchers. We've got quite a few low PSI agents. We're going to be running a much more aggressive movement plan.

This could get ugly.

If we get down to two men, I'm going to do my best to evacuate.

We'll think of something if everyone dies.

[Poli]

Or just go with AE II by default. :)

[MrBug708]

Goodness....How did I get picked for this madness?

[hoopsguy]

Even with all the warnings about potential death and destruction, I'm excited to have snuck into the last spot. Hopefully we fight way over our heads and burn down the base with minimal casualties, setting the stage for Mars in style.

[Godzilla Blitz]

109th Mission: British Base Assault Competition

Turn 1
Ok, we're in the base. We're in side-by-side rooms in the northwest corner of the base. Mr. Bug, Katon, and Danny Van Halen draw first straws in the eastern most room of our two rooms. They head down. They encounter no aliens as they set up in on the ground floor. There are corridors west (to our other entry point), east, and south. All three men leave enough time to react to alien movement.

In the westernmost room, Hoops Guy draws the first straw out. He goes down without incident. There are corridors east (to our other entry point) and south. He sets up facing south.

The rest of the men will wait for us to clear some space below.

Scoreboard


Name Mode Points
Danny Van Halen Normal
Wolfpack Cautious
Alf III Normal
MrBug IV Normal
Blade6119 IV Normal
Katon II Cautious
Ardent Enthusiast Cautious
Lokugh III Agressive
Naiwf Normal
Breeze Normal
Chuck U Farley Aggressive
Split Pers III Aggressive
Glengoyne Normal
Hoops Guy Cautious

[Godzilla Blitz]

Turn 1: Aliens
Katon II spots movement to our south! A Sectoid comes down a grav-lift in the room to our south, about 15 meters away. It opens fire on Katon II...

and hits! Katon is dazed, but he stays up and pulls the trigger on his heavy plasma. Shots race toward the alien and...

hit! The Sectoid wails and falls! Katon is on the board!

Suddenly, a wave of PSI energy washes over us...

Scoreboard


Name Mode Points
Danny Van Halen Normal 0
Wolfpack Cautious 0
Alf III Normal 0
MrBug IV Normal 0
Blade6119 IV Normal 0
Katon II Cautious 2
Ardent Enthusiast Cautious 0
Lokugh III Agressive 0
Naiwf Normal 0
Breeze Normal 0
Chuck U Farley Aggressive 0
Split Pers III Aggressive 0
Glengoyne Normal 0
Hoops Guy Cautious 0

[Godzilla Blitz]

Turn 2: Aliens

Nothing.

[hoopsguy]

Feeling a little lonely ... or is it just more kills for me? Now I know how SplitPersonality has felt on all of these missions.

[Godzilla Blitz]

Turn 3: X-COM
Hoops Guy spots a Cyberdisc coming for him from the south! He opens fire from about 40 meters away...

and drills the thing with a blast of plasma. These Cyberdisc's are tough, though. It swivels, aims, and returns fire...

Hoops Guy is gutted! His guts pour onto the cold, hard base floor. Frantically he tries to stuff them back in, but the Cyberdisc drills him again, and that is the last thing Hoops Guy remembers.

Up above, Ardent Enthusiast and Blade6119 draw the next lots, in that order. Ardent jumps into the grav-lift, drops to the ground floor, steps in line with the south corridor, and opens fire. His shots scream down the corridor and slam into the Cyberdisc! The thing explodes, and we see a Sectoid engulfed in flames come down the corridor toward us. It topples over a second later, dead. Ardent bagged a pair!

Blade6119 is right on his heels, but for the moment we see no more action to the south. But wait! The Cyberdisc explosion blew away a section of the outer wall in that room. We can make out the gold inner walls of the command center down there. Bonus point land lies just a few meters to the south. Blade6119 heads for it.

Back in the eastern room, Katon and Mr. Bug proceed into the southern room, but so far see no more aliens. This room should lie just to the east of the command center, so these men have a chance to cut over and score big. Danny still heads east, but is joined by Glen Goyne, who drew the next lot out of the upper room.

X-COM 3, Aliens 1

Scoreboard Update


Name Mode Points
Danny Van Halen Normal 0
Wolfpack Cautious 0
Alf III Normal 0
MrBug IV Normal 0
Blade6119 IV Normal 0
Katon II Cautious 2
Ardent Enthusiast Cautious 4
Lokugh III Agressive 0
Naiwf Normal 0
Breeze Normal 0
Chuck U Farley Aggressive 0
Split Pers III Aggressive 0
Glengoyne Normal 0
Hoops Guy Cautious DQ

[Qwikshot]

Mars Strike Team Omega

Our next two members of Strike Team Omega:

1. Commander Kodos
2. Captain Revrew
3. Colonel Jfbbis
4. Colonel Wade Moore
5. Captain Jeff Nights II
6. Captain AStott
7. Sergeant Thomkal II
8. Sergeant Achilles
9. Sergeant Swaggs
10. Sergeant Coffee Warlord II
11. Squaddie Jeeber D
12. Squaddie Raven Hawk II
13. Captain Qwikshot II
Qwikshot has been an active and steady agent over the course of his career, has always kept us positive, and has shown solid cool under PSI pressure. While he doesn't have the high kill totals of some of our agents and could have difficulties if we sustain casualties, his long track record of excellence makes him a solid choice for the Mars mission.

14. Squaddie Illinifan V
The Illinifan family looks to have finally gotten things right with their latest X-COM member. Illinifan has nearly perfect close combat genetic talent: high bravery, quick reactions, and rock-solid PSI skills. Although he lacks the experience of many of our Omega team members, he brings a lot of potential to the table, and has performed admirably in over ten missions.

Welcome aboard, men.

Next up...
The Battle Competition. 14 agents fighting a point-scored base assault to earn one of two seats on the Avenger. This should be a dilly!


Woohoo, I'm on the squad...I'll make you proud. Ah, #13, hope it's lucky.

[hoopsguy]

Ouch. Time to go to bed. Go get 'em, guys!

[Godzilla Blitz]

Turn 3: Aliens

Although we see no alien activity, Katon is slammed by a wave of PSI energy. He starts to shake and quiver, but...

...he hangs on! Still his morale takes such a drop that we're going to have to order him to drop his weapons until he can calm down. - 1 point for Katon

X-COM 3, Aliens 1

Scoreboard Update


Name Mode Points
Danny Van Halen Normal 0
Wolfpack Cautious 0
Alf III Normal 0
MrBug IV Normal 0
Blade6119 IV Normal 0
Katon II Cautious 1
Ardent Enthusiast Cautious 4
Lokugh III Agressive 0
Naiwf Normal 0
Breeze Normal 0
Chuck U Farley Aggressive 0
Split Pers III Aggressive 0
Glengoyne Normal 0
Hoops Guy Cautious DQ

[Glengoyne]

This is the most fun you can have on a message board.

Well without a Wizzard's Robe or Rhinocerous.

[kingfc22]

This is going to be good.:D

[Godzilla Blitz]

Turn 4: X-COM

Blade6119 and Ardent start moving toward the command center to the south. To get there they’ll have to pass through a smaller room that is filled with explosive canisters. The room is empty, but the two men hold just shy of the room for the moment. If they get stuck in that room when a fuel canister gets hit, it’s lights out.

To their east, the badly shaken Katon drops his heavy plasma and grenades, and starts back to the room to the north until he can regain composure. Suddenly, a blast of plasma comes streaking out of the small, windowed bunker in the center of the room he just left and slams into the wall beside his head. Katon jumps to the safety of the northern room.

As Chuck Farley—who drew the next lot—jumps in the grav-lift to come down and help, Mr. Bug, who is right beside the bunker in the room the shot came from, frantically figures out what to do. Before he reacts, Chuck spots the alien that fired on Katon. It’s about 30 meters away, in the room to Mr. Bug’s south. The alien had fired through the bunker room at Katon. Chuck quickly aims and fires his heavy plasma, but the shots go wide, slam into the bunker, and blow some wall panels away.

Mr. Bug gets to his feet, runs to the window of the bunker, and fires through it at the Sectoid. Plasma races through the bunker, out the other side, and guts the alien. It topples to the ground, dead.

Mr. Bug is on the board!

To his east, Danny and Glen continue east down their corridor until they come to a corridor running south that crosses it. Danny has dibs and takes the south corridor, figuring that more aliens lie in that direction. Glen continues east.

X-COM 4, Aliens 1

Scoreboard Update


Name Mode Points
Danny Van Halen Normal 0
Wolfpack Cautious 0
Alf III Normal 0
MrBug IV Normal 2
Blade6119 IV Normal 0
Katon II Cautious 1
Ardent Enthusiast Cautious 4
Lokugh III Agressive 0
Naiwf Normal 0
Breeze Normal 0
Chuck U Farley Aggressive 0
Split Pers III Aggressive 0
Glengoyne Normal 0
Hoops Guy Cautious DQ

[Raven Hawk]

I'm in the communcations room, listening in. I pour a little of my 40 out on the floor for hoopsguy. A good man and a brave soldier.

[Tellistto]

Intense stuff...haven't hit refresh this often in a long time!


Tell

[Godzilla Blitz]

Turn 4: Aliens

Mr. Bug spots Sectoid movement to the south, but neiter side gets a shot off.

To his east, Danny spots a Cyberdisc in the hallway to his south! The thing fires first. A blast of plasma races toward Danny and slams into his chest armor. Danny starts to fade, but he pulls it together. Before he can get a shot off, a massive wave of PSI energy slams into him! He starts speaking Sectoid! He wheels around, spots Glen Goyne, and fires from 10 feet away. Glen's back armor is ripped apart and he is thrown forward to the ground. Blood pours onto the white base floor from a massive hole in his upper back. Within seconds, Glen is dead.

Danny fades from our radar screen: rogue agent on the loose.

Things are turning ugly.

X-COM 4, Aliens 2

Scoreboard Update


Name Mode Points
Danny Van Halen Normal -28
Wolfpack Cautious 0
Alf III Normal 0
MrBug IV Normal 2
Blade6119 IV Normal 0
Katon II Cautious 1
Ardent Enthusiast Cautious 4
Lokugh III Agressive 0
Naiwf Normal 0
Breeze Normal 0
Chuck U Farley Aggressive 0
Split Pers III Aggressive 0
Glengoyne Normal DQ
Hoops Guy Cautious DQ

[Godzilla Blitz]

Glad people are enjoying it. I was afraid it might be kind of boring. I wish I could play and type faster.

I'd like to keep going, but I think I'll stop and rewrite that post I deleted and then call it a night for X-COM. I think this is a nice, suspensful place to say...

(to be continued)

[kingfc22]

Knowing that we only have 4 days until D-Day. This will be the ONLY time I won't be too said if someone dies. It's sad, but Kingfc22 II wants to go to Mars!!! Armed or Unarmed

[Raven Hawk]

Pours some of his Colt 45 out for Glengoyne.

Stop dying, it's turning into alchohol abuse.

[hoopsguy]

DVH still has never died. Of course, he isn't exactly making a great case for himself to be on Mars in any capacity that involves a weapon ...

Sorry to cost you the booze this close to the Mars mission, Raven. However, it is good to see that you have an eclectic mix of wino specials on hand for the occasion.

[Kodos]

This is great fun. GB, you continue to outdo yourself!

[Glengoyne]

I would have bet good money another agent would kill me on this mission, but never did I consider it would be Them under alien control.

On another note, maybe it was a bad Idea to tell my squad mates to keep a gun trained my direction.

[MrBug708]

Heh...Im gonna get all my kills in a fake mission

[Godzilla Blitz]

I'm going to try and play the rest of the mission tomorrow late morning. That might not be possible, though. We'll see how work goes.

I think we might be in real trouble in this mission. Our perimeter to the east is shot, we've lost two agents KIA, Danny is fighting for the wrong team, Katon is a liability until he gets his head back on straight, and the rest of our troops are mighty shaky on the PSI defense. We're essentially down to ten men already, and the aliens have lost four and added one. And how long can Blade6119 and Ardent fight beside each other without one of them shooting the other?

The lack of blaster launchers makes it much tougher. Right now I would like to hit the room to Mr. Bug's south with one missile, and hit the wall between the last locations of Danny and the Cyberdisc with another one.

This could be a tough fight tomorrow. Be interesting to see if Ardent can hold his lead. Lots of aliens left to kill, though. If we can kill them, that is.

[Godzilla Blitz]

Kodos: Thanks. I wonder if the Mars mission would be better done this way, or the regular way. I wouldn't keep score, though.

Heh...Im gonna get all my kills in a fake mission

Fake? Those are real aliens shooting at you out there, Ender. ;)

Glen: Sorry about your death. It happened so damn fast. Those PSI-attacks are brutal. You just watch your guys die.

Hoops: Sorry, too. I thought about bringing another agent down at the start, but you had lots of help on your east, and solid walls behind you to the north and west. I was worried that if we brought another agent with you we'd make a juicy, five-agent target for a blaster missile, as the two rooms were kind of close. Having the alien command center just to your south was probably not conducive to living a long time, especially by yourself.

Raven: Save some of that stuff for me, ok?

[MrBug708]

Well, the premise is fake. It's almost like "The Most Dangerous Game"

[Glengoyne]

Kodos: Thanks. I wonder if the Mars mission would be better done this way, or the regular way. I wouldn't keep score, though.
...
Glen: Sorry about your death. It happened so damn fast. Those PSI-attacks are brutal. You just watch your guys die.
...

I think this format makes for a very interesting read while it is happening, but I think you would probably craft a better tale if you did it in your "normal" manner. It is entirely up to you though.

Oh and no trouble with the death. I went out in a better manner than I had envisioned. I think the fact that I have a Psi Def of 3, and was never controlled on a mission, may indicate that your Psi decoy strategy may not pan out as well as we all thought it might.

Oh and Good luck to the rest of you. I hope DVH survives, so I can haunt his "never been killed" ass for the rest of his life.;)

[Alf]

Interesting read. Wiating for the new thread

[Poli]

GB, I hope you can finish this sometime this morning. I'll be gone for the weekend with the colors detail (flag detail) up to Milwaukee for the NASCAR races.

I expect I'll be leaving here at noon CST.

PS, If I make it to Mars, there's a shiny quarter in it for you.

[Godzilla Blitz]

Turn 5: X-COM

We need reinforcements to the east. Lokugh III draws the next lot, steps into the grav-lift, and heads down to the main floor of the base. He breaks right and heads down the corridor toward Danny Van Halen's last known location. Chuck also breaks right and joins Lokugh. The two men keep their weapons at the ready: he's should be just around the corner.

Naiwf gets the next lot, heads into the grav-lift, drops to the main floor, and jogs to join Mr. Bug. Mr. Bug keeps an eye open for movement to the south as he begins to work his way around the small bunker in the middle of the room.

To his west, Ardent prepares a grenade to toss into the room with the fuel cannisters. With the command center just on the other side, we can't risk taking fire while crossing a room full of gasoline.

X-COM 4, Aliens 2

[Godzilla Blitz]

Turn 5: Aliens

Danny snaps back under our control for a brief moment! He spots the Cyberdisc that hit him before just as it turns a corner to the east. He gets off one quick shot that dings the upper hull of the thing, then it is gone down the side corridor.

Mr. Bug and Naiwf catch Sectoid movement in the room to their south, but neither agent can get a shot off.

Two massive waves of PSI energy slam into our forces again. Danny snaps back under alien control and Katon completely freezes up.

Suddenly, Mr. Bug sees Danny come barging into his room through a side corridor from the east. Danny's only three feet away! His eyes are wild, there's spittle all over his face plate, and he's screaming in Sectoid.

Mr. Bug twists violently to the left to fire, just as Danny jerks his weapon toward Mr. Bug...

X-COM 4, Aliens 2

Scoreboard Update


Name Mode Points
Danny Van Halen Normal -27
Wolfpack Cautious 0
Alf III Normal 0
MrBug IV Normal 2
Blade6119 IV Normal 0
Katon II Cautious -1
Ardent Enthusiast Cautious 4
Lokugh III Agressive 0
Naiwf Normal 0
Breeze Normal 0
Chuck U Farley Aggressive 0
Split Pers III Aggressive 0
Glengoyne Normal DQ
Hoops Guy Cautious DQ

[Godzilla Blitz]

Turn 6: X-COM

Mr. Bug pulls the trigger a fraction of a second faster. A stream of plasma slams into Danny's chest plate, but he stays on his feet and gets off a shot that snaps Mr. Bug's head back. Mr. Bug topples over backwards just as a second shot from Danny tears through the space where his upper torso just was. Mr. Bug lands on his back. The world is swimming, but Mr. Bug aims for the Danny in the middle of his triple vision and pulls the trigger on full-auto. Three more shots slam into Danny, ripping apart his chest armor and penetrating to flesh. Danny is slammed back into the wall of the room, where he slides to the ground, his chest a steaming mass of red gore. Mr. Bug rolls over onto his stomach, gets to his knees, then turns to confirm that Danny is dead--

Danny is standing! He's dropped his weapon, there's blood pouring down his legs from the massive hole that used to be his chest. He starts walking toward Mr. Bug. Mr. Bug pulls the trigger on his heavy plasma and cuts Danny in half at the stomach. Danny's upper torso and head collapse onto his legs, and then everything falls to floor of the alien base. Danny is dead.

Mr. Bug shakes his head to clear it. Outside of a massive headache, he appears to be fine.

Still, the loss of yet another agent badly shakes the morale of our men. Everyone is on the edge of panic. Blade6119 looks particularly shaken. For the moment their training holds such fears in check, and they continue fighting...

Ardent tosses his grenade into the room with the fuel cannisters, then both he and Blade6119 step back around the corner to get out of the way of the blast that will follow.

Mr. Bug and Naiwf retrain their attention to the south, where we know there is at least one Sectoid.

To the east, Chuck heads east, then turns south, down the corridor that Danny took before he got mind-controlled. There must be a Cyberdisc down here somewhere. Lokugh III makes an agressive move as he jogs straight east, past the corridor Chuck went down.

Wolfpack draws the next lot, and drops to the main floor of the base. We'll need more firepower here shortly.

Up above, Breeze, Alf, and Split Personality wait to get in the action.

X-COM 4, Aliens 3

Scoreboard Update


Name Mode Points
Danny Van Halen Normal DQ
Wolfpack Cautious 0
Alf III Normal 0
MrBug IV Normal 7
Blade6119 IV Normal 0
Katon II Cautious -1
Ardent Enthusiast Cautious 4
Lokugh III Agressive 0
Naiwf Normal 0
Breeze Normal 0
Chuck U Farley Aggressive 0
Split Pers III Aggressive 0
Glengoyne Normal DQ
Hoops Guy Cautious DQ

[Godzilla Blitz]

Turn 6: Aliens

A Sectoid comes down the corridor in front of Chuck, about 40 meters further into the base! Chuck goes for his weapon, but the Sectoid gets off a shot a second faster. The plasma races toward Chuck and...

drills him in the face plate! Red plasma burns into his head, cutting through flesh, bone, and brains. Chuck falls foward like a tree. His body slams onto the floor, twitching. Blood drains onto the base floor. Chuck is dead.

To their west, Mr. Bug and Naiwf see no movement in the room to their south.

Again to the west, Ardent's grenade goes off, setting off a chain reaction that tears the fuel cannisters in the room apart.

With the death of Chuck, our morale takes yet another drop.

X-COM 4, Aliens 4

Scoreboard Update


Name Mode Points
Danny Van Halen Normal DQ
Wolfpack Cautious 0
Alf III Normal 0
MrBug IV Normal 7
Blade6119 IV Normal 0
Katon II Cautious -1
Ardent Enthusiast Cautious 4
Lokugh III Agressive 0
Naiwf Normal 0
Breeze Normal 0
Chuck U Farley Aggressive DQ
Split Pers III Aggressive 0
Glengoyne Normal DQ
Hoops Guy Cautious DQ

[Poli]

Crap! There goes my ride!

[Godzilla Blitz]

Turn 7: X-COM

As Wolfpack races to help, Lokugh turns around and sprints into the corridor where Chuck died. He spots the Sectoid down the hall, drops to a knee, and opens fire. Plasma races down the corridor...

...and nails the Sectoid! It drops to the floor of the base, but there is no tell-tale scream of death. A second shot from Lokugh hits an intervening fuel cannister and blows it up. The smoke and debris from the explosion cause the Sectoid to fade from Lokugh's HUD. Damn it.

To their west, Mr. Bug and Naiwf continue around the bunker in their room. They make it to the south side of the room, and train their weapons on the exit. Beyond it they can see what look like some kind of cave structure.

To the west again, Ardent heads around the corner and into the smoky room he just cleared with a grenade. It's difficult to see with all the smoke...

Movement! A Sectoid, five feet in front of him, and is it holding a blaster launcher? Ardent pulls the trigger a fraction of a second faster than the alien and blows it off its feet. The alien falls backwards screaming. It lands with a slap on the base floor, dead.

Blade6119 follows Ardent into the room.

Up above all the action, Breeze draws the next lot and heads into the fray.

X-COM 5, Aliens 4

Scoreboard Update


Name Mode Points
Danny Van Halen Normal DQ
Wolfpack Cautious 0
Alf III Normal 0
MrBug IV Normal 7
Blade6119 IV Normal 0
Katon II Cautious -1
Ardent Enthusiast Cautious 6
Lokugh III Agressive 1
Naiwf Normal 0
Breeze Normal 0
Chuck U Farley Aggressive DQ
Split Pers III Aggressive 0
Glengoyne Normal DQ
Hoops Guy Cautious DQ

[Godzilla Blitz]

Crap! There goes my ride!

The top two agents get a ticket.

[Poli]

Go Go Gadget Ardent!

[Poli]

The top two agents get a ticket.

ROCK ON!

[Godzilla Blitz]

Turn 7: Aliens

Naiwf spots an alien in the room to the south, but before he can get a shot off he's hit with a hard wave of PSI energy. He immediately starts babbling in Sectoid! Oh crap.

He breaks west through a side corridor and into the room with Ardent and Blade6119. Both men are stunned to see Naiwf bearing down on them with a weapon. They hesitate. Naiwf doesn't. He pulls the trigger on his heavy plasma on full-auto from ten feet away.

Plasma screams towards Ardent's chest...

X-COM 5, Aliens 4

Scoreboard Update


Name Mode Points
Danny Van Halen Normal DQ
Wolfpack Cautious 0
Alf III Normal 0
MrBug IV Normal 7
Blade6119 IV Normal 0
Katon II Cautious -1
Ardent Enthusiast Cautious 6
Lokugh III Agressive 1
Naiwf Normal -8
Breeze Normal 0
Chuck U Farley Aggressive DQ
Split Pers III Aggressive 0
Glengoyne Normal DQ
Hoops Guy Cautious DQ

[Godzilla Blitz]

Whew! This is exhausting. Time for a little break. I'll be back this evening.

[Poli]

HATER!!!!! GET BACK HERE!

[Godzilla Blitz]

Just kidding. Just a moment. It takes a while to write the death reports up.

[Poli]

UGH!

[Poli]

Please don't die...please don't die. NAIWF, I'm your friend, buddy. Don't shoot me. Don't shoot me.

[Poli]

Do a good job, do a good job, do a good job!

[Godzilla Blitz]

Turn 8: X-COM

As Blade6119 stares in disbelief, plasma slams into Ardent's chest plate, denting it badly and knocking the wind out of Ardent. Unable to breathe, Ardent tries to pull the trigger on his heavy plasma, but his arms have gone numb from the blast. He stares at Naiwf helplessly. Fire, Blade6119, fire! What is wrong with you? Ardent snaps off a prayer to the god of X-COM. Instead of firing, Naiwf turns and darts back toward the bunker room.

Ardent coughs, gets a gulp of air down, and bolts after Naiwf. He turns the corner and spots him, ten feet away, running toward Mr. Bug's position. Ardent manages to pull the trigger this time. Three bolts of plasma cover the distance in a flash. They hit Naiwf in the back and punch through the weak rear armor. Naiwf's spine is cut in two, his back is shattered, and he tumbles forward to the base floor, dead.

Behind Ardent, Blade6119 snaps out of his funk and gets going again. He races to the Sectoid that Ardent killed and looks at the weapon: Blaster Launcher and three missiles! Yes! Bonus point to Ardent! Blade6119 frantically starts picking up the weapon and ammo.

To the east of this, Mr. Bug advances into the south room, fully expecting to see a Sectoid, but there is nothing in here. Mr. Bug now recognizes this room as the outer shell of the command center. We're closing in. Behind him, Breeze jogs to catch up.

To the east yet again. Lokugh breaks right, away from Wolfpack, and heads east. There should be a Cyberdisc down that way, as well as a large unexplored area. Should be the best direction for points.

Wolfpack starts cautiously down the corridor to the south. He draws near a fuel cannister room and pulls out a grenade to clear the room.

Back in our entrance room, Katon continues to hum Barry Manilow songs.

Up above, Split personality draws the next lot and drops to the base floor. He heads east to help out with Lokugh and Wolfpack.

X-COM 5, Aliens 5

Scoreboard Update


Name Mode Points
Danny Van Halen Normal DQ
Wolfpack Cautious 0
Alf III Normal 0
MrBug IV Normal 7
Blade6119 IV Normal 0
Katon II Cautious -1
Ardent Enthusiast Cautious 10
Lokugh III Agressive 1
Naiwf Normal DQ
Breeze Normal 0
Chuck U Farley Aggressive DQ
Split Pers III Aggressive 0
Glengoyne Normal DQ
Hoops Guy Cautious DQ

[Poli]

Sorry, NAIWF. :(

[Godzilla Blitz]

Turn 8: Aliens

An alien pops around the corner of the command center, right in front of Mr. Bug! The alien gets off one shot first, but it sails just to Mr. Bug's right. Mr. Bug gets off a reply that is right on target: it blows a hole in the Sectoid's stomach. The creature falls to the ground, dead.

Ardent's kill and now Mr. Bug's cause our morale to soar again. But just then, yet another wave of PSI energy slams into our troops. Blade6119--with his newly armed blaster launcher--starts to shake, twitch, and mumble in Sectoid. His eyes glaze over and he glares at Ardent, just ten feet away.

X-COM 6, Aliens 5

Scoreboard Update


Name Mode Points
Danny Van Halen Normal DQ
Wolfpack Cautious 0
Alf III Normal 0
MrBug IV Normal 9
Blade6119 IV Normal 0
Katon II Cautious -1
Ardent Enthusiast Cautious 10
Lokugh III Agressive 1
Naiwf Normal DQ
Breeze Normal 0
Chuck U Farley Aggressive DQ
Split Pers III Aggressive 0
Glengoyne Normal DQ
Hoops Guy Cautious DQ

[Godzilla Blitz]

Not kidding this time, though. I really do need a break.

I'll be back playing in about 15 minutes. Next post should be up in about a half hour or so.

Edit: Pizza in. Ginger ale in. Pee out. Back at it.

[illinifan999]

Boy the illinifan family has had it's ups and downs. Getting picked for the final assault, and having a member run away in battle. We're special.

Oh yeah, poor ardent. ;)

[JeeberD]

Wow, this is great stuff, GB. And after reading up to this point, I'm really glad that I was a winner in the contest and didn't have to come on this mission. This is getting rather ugly...

[Godzilla Blitz]

Turn 9: X-COM

Blade6119 hangs on! He stays with us! He's looking might shaky, though. We'll have to take that blaster launcher out of his hands after one quick shot.

But first, Mr. Bug advances toward right side of the shell that runs around the command center. At once, he sees both a Sectoid, further along the right side, about 15 meters away, and a Cyberdisc, about 15 meters away, advancing on Mr. Bug down a side corridor! Two-on-one!

Mr. Bug twists for the Sectoid as all combatants open fire. Mr. Bug's first shot sails wide. A plasma blast from the Cyberdisc blows a hole in the wall beside his head. Mr. Bug gets off one more shot that goes well left, and then a blast from the Cyberdisc decapitates him in a splash of blood and bone. Mr. Bug's lifeless body falls to the floor of the base. To the east, the Cyberdisc that killed Mr. Bug registers on Wolfpack's HUD, down the long corridor that stretches in front of him. The thing's back end is just visible, as it hovers there, waiting for more agents to approach. Wolfpack takes careful aim and pulls the trigger. Plasma races down the hall and slams into the Cyberdisc. The thing erupts with a crash, and we see a Sectoid body come tumbling down the hall in the explosion. Wolfpack got a pair!

No one has any shot on the Sectoid that was in front of Mr. Bug, but Blade6119 plots a quick course with the blaster launcher and pulls the trigger. The rocket tears around the command center and...

...goes down the wrong corridor? Huh? It explodes harmlessly, about 20 meters away from the Sectoid. I thought you couldn't miss with those things, and now we've missed twice in two missions. Aargh.

Time to close in.

As Blade6119 puts down the blaster launcher and drops his other weapons, Ardent heads for the command center throught the corridor to his south. He gets five feet forward when he spots a Sectoid approaching him from the left side of the command center, about 10 meters away. Both combatants go for their weapons at the same time, but Ardent is on fire today: he gets off his shot first and blows the alien's head apart. The thing collapses to the ground, dead.

To his east, Breeze and then Split Personality head straight south, for the command center. Breeze makes it to the opening onto the command center, and holds there.

To their east, Wolfpack tosses his grenade into the fuel cannister room to clear it. Lokugh quickly cuts east, then south, ignoring flanks and unexplored rooms. He'll bear straight for the heart of the base.

Katon continues to panic.

Up above, let's hear a big hand for Alf, who drew the last lot, and finally comes down the grav-lift to get into the action.

X-COM 9, Aliens 6

Scoreboard Update


Name Mode Points
Danny Van Halen Normal DQ
Wolfpack Cautious 4
Alf III Normal 0
MrBug IV Normal DQ
Blade6119 IV Normal -1
Katon II Cautious -1
Ardent Enthusiast Cautious 12
Lokugh III Agressive 1
Naiwf Normal DQ
Breeze Normal 0
Chuck U Farley Aggressive DQ
Split Pers III Aggressive 0
Glengoyne Normal DQ
Hoops Guy Cautious DQ

[jerk3616]

Holy crap, dude. Not even one of my patented "assless chaps" comments is going to lighten the mood when these soldiers come home. Someone needs to go all Tony Montana in there...

"Say hello....to my LITTL' FRIEN' !!"

Boom.

EDIT: I forgot to mention that whoever "goes all Tony Montana in there" needs to make sure that they're not standing on a balcony overlooking in indoor fountain when they do. Do alien bases have indoor fountains?

[Godzilla Blitz]

Turn 9: Aliens

Nothing. The base falls completely silent.

X-COM 9, Aliens 6

[illinifan999]

/cue dun dun dun music

[Godzilla Blitz]

Turn 10: X-COM

On the east side, Lokugh sprints for the remaining unexplored areas of the base. Weapon pointed front, he's relying on his lightning reflexes to help him react to a threat.

In the north-south corridor to his west, Wolfpack has to hold up to wait for the grenade he threw last turn to explode. He had it set on delayed timer.

One more corridor to the west, Breeze heads for the spot where Mr. Bug was killed. As he gets to the outer shell of the command center, he turns a corner and comes face-to-face with a Sectoid! Breeze has no time to fire. Instead he brings the butt of his heavy plasma up into the jaw of the Sectoid. The heavy metal snaps the creature's head up. The alien staggers, jams his plasma pistol into Breeze's stomach, and pulls the trigger. Breeze twists at just the last second: the shot glances off his side armor and slams into the base wall behind him. Breeze then brings the butt of his heavy plamsa back down for the Sectoid's head. The Sectoid pulls back at the last second; the butt of Breeze's weapon misses his head, but catches the Sectoid's pistol, knocking it to the floor. The Sectoid lunges into Breeze--who is off balance from missing with his weapon--and pushes him up against the base wall with a thud. The wind goes out of Breeze's lungs with a whoosh. Man and alien lock arms, but Breeze is much bulkier than the light-boned Sectoid. In a matter of seconds, Breeze gets a two-handed headlock on the Sectoid's skull. Using his body for leverage, Breeze lets out a primordial roar and twists violently. The Sectoid's neck snaps with crack. Breeze lets go. The body falls to the floor of the base.

As this fight went on, both Split and Alf were racing to the scene. Split gets there just as Breeze steps back to catch his breath. Split jumps over the dead Sectoid and heads into the outer shell of the Command Center. Alf, still a few meters back, reaches Breeze and checks to see if he is ok.

To their west, Ardent retreats for the Blaster Launcher that Blade6119 had to abandon. Once there, he scrambles to arm it. Meanwhile Blade6119 starts to get himself back under control. He should be ready to get back into action momentarily.

Even Katon's head seems to be clearing. He may not be out of this fight completely, either.

X-COM 10, Aliens 6

Scoreboard Update


Name Mode Points
Danny Van Halen Normal DQ
Wolfpack Cautious 4
Alf III Normal 0
MrBug IV Normal DQ
Blade6119 IV Normal -1
Katon II Cautious -1
Ardent Enthusiast Cautious 12
Lokugh III Agressive 1
Naiwf Normal DQ
Breeze Normal 3
Chuck U Farley Aggressive DQ
Split Pers III Aggressive 0
Glengoyne Normal DQ
Hoops Guy Cautious DQ

[Breeze]

AWESOME!!!!

[Godzilla Blitz]

Turn 10: Aliens

As Split gets his bearings in the outer hallway of the command center, a solitary plasma blast comes streaking out of the darkness to the south, through the devastation from Blade6119's earlier blaster missile shot.

The shot catches Split below the waist, punches through the armor, and blows a hole out of Split's groin. Split drops to his knees as blood and entrails drain onto the floor. Split looks down, says goodbye to everyone in his head, together they all fall over, dead.

On news of this, Katon flips out again.

X-COM 10, Aliens 7

Scoreboard Update


Name Mode Points
Danny Van Halen Normal DQ
Wolfpack Cautious 4
Alf III Normal 0
MrBug IV Normal DQ
Blade6119 IV Normal -1
Katon II Cautious -1
Ardent Enthusiast Cautious 12
Lokugh III Agressive 1
Naiwf Normal DQ
Breeze Normal 3
Chuck U Farley Aggressive DQ
Split Pers III Aggressive DQ
Glengoyne Normal DQ
Hoops Guy Cautious DQ

[RealDeal]

Looks like the winners of this contest will be anyone who survives it.

[Tellistto]

Man, GB, Breeze needs some bonus points for that kill, if for nothing else than being the most creative kill in the mission!


Tell

[JeeberD]

A groin shot has got to be the worst way to go...

[jerk3616]

Ugh...not the prettiest way to die, Split. I'd empathize with you, but I might want to have children someday, not to mention my aversion to searing pain in my groin.

[Godzilla Blitz]

Turn 11: X-COM

Ardent jams a missile into the blaster launcher, plots a course for the origin of the shot that killed Split, and pulls the trigger. The missile winds around the command center and hits the wall on its southern edge. We hear the large explosion as the missile tears apart another chunk of the base. Following on its heels, we hear a Sectoid screaming in agony! Ardent is putting on a one-man show!

Blade6119's confidence took a big hit when Split got killed. He'll still need to calm down more before he can get in on the action.

To the east of them, Breeze and Alf head slowly for the command center.

One corridor to the east, Wolfpack shakes his head and wonders why his grenade hasn't gone off yet. He's sure he primed it. Frustrated, he decides to go for it. He sprints forward, grabs his grenade, and tosses it furhter south into the enemy base.

To his east, Lokugh continues his wreckless, headlong rush through the east side of the base. He's now in a large laboratory, with human body parts in glass chambers all over the place. Still no sign of aliens. He starts to break west for the general area of the command center.

Behind all the action, Katon sees a mouse and has a panic attack.

Can't be too many aliens left. Ardent holds a big lead and looks to have gotten himself a trip on the Avenger if he can hold things together. Wolfpack holds a slim lead over Breeze for the second spot, but it's still anyone's game down there.

X-COM 11, Aliens 7

Scoreboard Update


Name Mode Points
Danny Van Halen Normal DQ
Wolfpack Cautious 4
Alf III Normal 0
MrBug IV Normal DQ
Blade6119 IV Normal -1
Katon II Cautious -1
Ardent Enthusiast Cautious 14
Lokugh III Agressive 1
Naiwf Normal DQ
Breeze Normal 3
Chuck U Farley Aggressive DQ
Split Pers III Aggressive DQ
Glengoyne Normal DQ
Hoops Guy Cautious DQ

[jerk3616]

Good thing you told Ardent how to load a blaster launcher, GB. :)

[Godzilla Blitz]

Turn 11: Aliens

A wave of PSI energy slams into us. Alf, right beside Breeze, starts blubbering. He completely freezes up. Damn it.

Breeze, get out of there, quickly.

X-COM 11, Aliens 7

Scoreboard Update


Name Mode Points
Danny Van Halen Normal DQ
Wolfpack Cautious 4
Alf III Normal -2
MrBug IV Normal DQ
Blade6119 IV Normal -1
Katon II Cautious -1
Ardent Enthusiast Cautious 14
Lokugh III Agressive 1
Naiwf Normal DQ
Breeze Normal 3
Chuck U Farley Aggressive DQ
Split Pers III Aggressive DQ
Glengoyne Normal DQ
Hoops Guy Cautious DQ

[Kodos]

Wow! Who would have thought Ardent would be putting on a show?!? :eek:

[RealDeal]

You're on the spaceship, Ardent. All you got to do is (i) don't die and (ii) don't wig out.

I got seats saved for us at the back of the spaceship. I'll bring the bong, and you bring the beer.

[Godzilla Blitz]

Turn 11: X-COM

As Breeze moves straight for the command center, Ardent stuffs another missile into the Blaster Launcher, plots a course into the heart of the command center, and pulls the trigger. The rocket disappears through a rip in the wall and explodes inside. A series of explosions rattle the base, as we must have hit some kind of ammo facility inside. A Sectoid scream once again follows the explosions. Ardent is a killing machine.

The kills spark the confidence of both Blade6119 and Katon, who are both finally feeling good enough to return to action. They grab heavy plasmas from the bodies of the dead and head toward the action.

To the east, Lokugh heads for the command center at a fast trot. Still no sign of aliens on this side of the base.

Wolfpack's grenade still doesn't go off. He gives up waiting for the thing, and sprints south, past it. Both Breeze and he are only a few meters away from being able to enter the command center.

Getting inside first and surviving is worth two points. Two points would put Breeze ahead of Wolfpack...

X-COM 12, Aliens 7

Scoreboard Update


Name Mode Points
Danny Van Halen Normal DQ
Wolfpack Cautious 4
Alf III Normal -2
MrBug IV Normal DQ
Blade6119 IV Normal -1
Katon II Cautious -1
Ardent Enthusiast Cautious 16
Lokugh III Agressive 1
Naiwf Normal DQ
Breeze Normal 3
Chuck U Farley Aggressive DQ
Split Pers III Aggressive DQ
Glengoyne Normal DQ
Hoops Guy Cautious DQ

[Godzilla Blitz]

Turn 11: Aliens

Our threat sensors turn green! It's over! They did it!

Well done, men!

I'll be back in a few minutes for a wrap up and final score adjustments. The game is giving us credit for 14 kills and I've got us down for 12. Someone (most likely Lokugh and/or Ardent, I think) is due some points.

X-COM 12, Aliens 7

Scoreboard Update


Name Mode Points
Danny Van Halen Normal DQ
Wolfpack Cautious 4
Alf III Normal -2
MrBug IV Normal DQ
Blade6119 IV Normal -1
Katon II Cautious -1
Ardent Enthusiast Cautious 16
Lokugh III Agressive 1
Naiwf Normal DQ
Breeze Normal 3
Chuck U Farley Aggressive DQ
Split Pers III Aggressive DQ
Glengoyne Normal DQ
Hoops Guy Cautious DQ

[Breeze]

Who got in first???

[3ric]

Wow.

[Kodos]

I feel like the bald officer in Top Gun who has to tell Maverick that he's getting his dream shot...

[jerk3616]

I feel like the bald officer in Top Gun who has to tell Maverick that he's getting his dream shot...

"You'll be flying a plane full of rubber dog sh*t to Mars!"

[Fonzie]

That was a terrific read, GB.

[jerk3616]

I agree with Fonzie...I really enjoy all of the write-ups and reports. I do think I could have gone without the visual of the groin-shot kill...

Seriously. Awesome job!

[Godzilla Blitz]

Wrap Up

Kills: Ardent Enthusiast, 7; Wolfpack, 2; Katon II, 1; Lokugh III, 1; Breeze, 1; Mr. Bug IV, 2.
KIA: Danny Van Halen, Mr. Bug IV, Naiwf, Chuck U Farley, Split Personality III, Glengoyne, Hoops Guy.
Wounded:
Attribute Improvements: All survivors.
Final score: 610.
Mission Notes:
Ardent Enthusiast put on what has to be one of the best displays of heroism X-COM has ever seen.

Seven dead. Ouch. I'm glad we're nearing the end.

Lokugh III and Ardent had the two missing kills. I missed hearing the scream from the kill and thought he only wounded him. Ardent must have gotten a pair with one of his blaster missile shots.

No one got into the command center before the last alien died.

Adjusting their totals gives us our...

Final Scoreboard


Name Mode Points
Danny Van Halen Normal DQ
Wolfpack Cautious 4
Alf III Normal -2
MrBug IV Normal DQ
Blade6119 IV Normal -1
Katon II Cautious -1
Ardent Enthusiast Cautious 18
Lokugh III Agressive 2
Naiwf Normal DQ
Breeze Normal 3
Chuck U Farley Aggressive DQ
Split Pers III Aggressive DQ
Glengoyne Normal DQ
Hoops Guy Cautious DQ


Congratulations to Ardent Enthusiast, who not only won the competition, but I believe also set a single mission record for kills with seven! Wow! (I think Raven Hawk had six on one mission, which was our best to date). Incredible performance!

Second place goes to Wolfpack, whose one huge shot took out two aliens and earned him a seat on the Avenger.

[Wolfpack]

*whew* I was going to be miffed if I lost out because I waited around for a dud grenade to go off and never got into any more action because of it.

[Breeze]

Damn, 1 point short of second place. My one kill was impressive though. :D

[Godzilla Blitz]

Update

December 11

The Skyranger limps back to base with its dead.

A single plume of black smoke rising into the morning sky marks the last alien base on Earth.

No other UFO activity occurs today.

D-Day minus three days.

December 12

We're now on real-time, meaning that we'll move the game forward one day for each real day. Our Mars launch will be on Sunday.

This afternoon, we'll have our random drawing for the last seat on the Skyranger. I'll then pick the alternates.

X-COM Command starts moving material for the final mission.

D-Day minus two.

[Fonzie]

This afternoon, we'll have our random drawing for the last seat on the Skyranger. I'll then pick the alternates.


Do the wimpy folks (like, say, Fonzie III, for example) on the "In Transit" list qualify for the random drawing?

[Godzilla Blitz]

Mars Strike Team Omega

Filling in the pieces up to now:

1. Commander Kodos
2. Captain Revrew
3. Colonel Jfbbis
4. Colonel Wade Moore
5. Captain Jeff Nights II
6. Captain AStott
7. Sergeant Thomkal II
8. Sergeant Achilles
9. Sergeant Swaggs
10. Sergeant Coffee Warlord II
11. Segeant Jeeber D (the game just promoted you)
12. Squaddie Raven Hawk II
13. Captain Qwikshot II
14. Squaddie Illinifan V
15. Squaddie Ardent Enthusiast
16. Squaddie Real Deal III
17. Sergeant Wolfpack
18. ??

Alternates:
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.

Next up...
The Random Draw. One agent selected from all our agents. Including the folks listed as in transit. Not the people on the waiting list, though.

[JeeberD]

Woohoo, made it to Sergeant! Now I can order around those damn squaddies. Hey you, Squaddie Enthusiast! Come here and shine my boots!!!!


:D

[Abe Sargent]

That was great. Very suspenseful.

-Anxiety

[MrBug708]

Kill Ardent

*knocks on wood*

[Godzilla Blitz]

Random Lottery

Well, with eight agents dying over the past two missions, the odds just went up considerably to be selected in the lottery for the last ticket on the Avenger. The current Vegas odds are about 33-1.

We'll still have the alternates to pick, but this is the last guaranteed seat on the plane. Please keep in mind that Jfbbis is still in a coma, though, and stuff can happen between now and launch, so that alternate list could be important.

Ok, without further ado, I roll the first die, then the second. Check the numbers to the specially designed chart I made...

The winner is...









Tasan II!
Tasan II's dad was a veteran of 15 missions and 7 kills, but for Tasan II, the mission to Mars will be his first taste of combat! How about that! He's got a bravery of 10, unknown PSI skills, and Jeeber D-like reactions. The perfect choice for our 18th man!

Vegas odds on his survival are rumored at 400-1.