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

[Godzilla Blitz]

Alternates

Here are our five alternates for the mission:

1. Fat Football II
2. Breeze
3. Sublime II
4. Patman II
5. ShaefIllini

I simply can't ignore Fat Football II's 99 rating in PSI defense, especially after what happened in Britain today.

Breeze's performance in battle bumps him up to second alternate.

Sublime II and Patman II have too distinguised careers to ignore.

ShaefIllini's stock went way up after his display of puzzle-solving prowess.

And there you have it. I'm real sorry for all those that won't make it on the Avenger. I wish there was a way to include everyone.

[Godzilla Blitz]

Crap. Disastrous news!

Update

Oh oh! This is really bad.

From the New York Times Special Edition…

Aliens Obliterate Chicago!

Aliens Ignore Deadline in Response to X-COM Base Attack

UN Believed on the Verge of Capitulation

World Opinion Sharply Split

http://home.comcast.net/~mwsmart/XCOMArt7.jpg
Chicago is hit by a massive alien missile. AP Photo

12 December 2003 – (AP, New York) Today, December 12 at 3:08PM EST (2:08PM local) Chicago was hit by a massive alien nuclear missile. The missile is believed to be roughly equal to the 150-kiloton one that struck Moscow only four days ago. Death and destruction are believed to be on a scale larger than that of Moscow. As many as 8 million people are thought to have died in the blast, which struck the heart of the city on a crowded workday.

Shortly after the blast the aliens released a statement saying that the attack was in response to an X-COM attack on a British alien base that occurred yesterday. “We offered you one week to consider our final offer of peace,” stated Sectoid Leader in a press conference in London shortly after the missile struck. “Instead, four days later you chose to assault our cultural embassy in Britain in a heinous attack that slaughtered all of our unarmed administrative staff at the facility.

“We simply could not ignore this vile deed, and consider it tantamount to your refusing our last offer of peace. Therefore, we have fired a nuclear missile at your city of Chicago, and will continue to file missiles at one major city each day until you surrender. Although we hate to waste good foo—I mean, good lives unnecessarily, you have go so far beyond the line of appropriate military behavior that you force us into this plan of action.”

Delegates at the UN are meeting now. Speaking on the condition of anonymity, one high-ranking source told this newspaper that the UN would unconditionally surrender before the day was out. Initial reactions from world leaders seem to indicate that most believe there is no alternative but surrender. Reaction on the street appears strongly in favor of surrender.

Related Stories: Pope Overjoyed at Gatesville Win (page 1A); Gatesville Owner Arrested on Murder Charge. (page 1C); Yankees’ Owner Quadruples Price of Spaceship Tickets to $40 million. (page 1F)

[Godzilla Blitz]

I'm off to New York for an emergency meeting at the UN.

I'll report back this evening when I know more.

This doesn't look good, though, and there is no way Sterling Ice can get the Avenger done ahead of time. We've got to stall the surrender.

[JeeberD]

No big loss, it's just Chicago.

I bet that CWII is PO'd, though...

[sterlingice]

I'm off to New York for an emergency meeting at the UN.

I'll report back this evening when I know more.

This doesn't look good, though, and there is no way Sterling Ice can get the Avenger done ahead of time. We've got to stall the surrender.
I'm just one man and my team can only work double shifts. They've gotta get a little sleep or they're useless (no one wants this ship blowing up on the way to Mars... well, except the aliens). We'll get it done in time, boss, but it's not happening too much before. Get those aliens good for blowing up Wrigley Field. Oh, and the people, etc, etc. Back to work.

SI

[Kodos]

Hit my Earth hometown, will you bastards?!?


YOU ALIEN BASTARDS WILL PAY DEARLY FOR THIS. :mad:

[Thomkal]

First off, congrats to Ardent and Wolfpack for getting seats on the Avenger, and in general just surviving that massacre.

Second since I'm a Cardinal fan, the loss of the Cubs doesn't bother me too much. :)

Third, love those related stories GB.

Fourth-to Mars Men, to Mars!

[Kodos]

Are you toasting Mars? We may have a traitor on our hands, boys!

;)

[sterlingice]

Are you toasting Mars? We may have a traitor on our hands, boys!

;)
Well, at the worst, he's a traitor. But even at the best, he only a man of poor character with even worse hygene and has known lapses in judgement. Unless he's very different than every other Cardinals fan.

SI

[Wolfpack]

I see we have a cannon fodder volunteer.... :)

[Raven Hawk]

From the New York Times Special Edition…

Aliens Obliterate Chicago!

MOTHER!

YOU BASTARDS! YOU TELL THEM I'M COMING TO MARS . . .


. . . AND HELL IS COMING WITH ME!

[illinifan999]

That was mean.

[kingfc22]

Wow, what a read. Just got home from work and congrats to AE for his fine showing.

I guess this means its time to follow jerk's advice. Get me a loan and go get laid!!! Give them hell boys. Give them hell.

[Tasan]

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.
HOT DAMN!

Father will be avenged! And most importantly, Bessie, our beloved family cow, and the whole reason dad got into this mess, will be avenged!!!!! On to Mars men, on to MARS!!!!!

My offer of being an assless-chaps decoy still stands, as I know that my stats don't really speak too highly of me. I'd love to have a crack at the aliens though, if possible. And before we leave, I'm gonna put $100 on myself. What do I have to lose? ;- )

[sachmo71]

So...who's flying the Avenger? :)

[hoopsguy]

Not a particularly good day in the Hoopsguy line, as the telegram that the lord of the manor was gunned down in battle never arrived, thanks the the shutdown of postal service to the Chicagoland area. And the death of the entire family line. Bummer.

Interesting that the city with the most representation at FOFC (with possible exception of Atlanta, who hasn't exactly come strong in this dynasty) took the missile. Our writer wouldn't be trying to stoke emotions even higher before the Mars assault, would he?

Couldn't the Martians have wasted the missile on a vast wasteland like Houston? Or on a cesspool of morons like St. Louis? They make a convenient target all dressed in red ...

[Godzilla Blitz]

Update

December 12, 2130 hours EST
I walk out of the final UN meeting depressed beyond words. I failed. No matter how much I talked about alien atrocities. No matter how much I tried to convince them that the purpose of the alien intervention on Earth was to use us as a food source. No matter how many photos I showed them. It is over. They just kept pointing to photos of Chicago in ruins. Or Moscow in tatters. Or the millions dead in the two nuclear attacks, and the millions more to come tomorrow if we do not surrender tonight. Or the promises from the aliens that they mean us no harm. I am stunned. We were so close. Two friggin’ days. That’s all we would have needed. Sunday we could have lifted off. We had them. We had everyone set to go. We were moving stuff in place. We had our team all set for launch. And now it is all for naught. I shake my head when I think of the horror the planet is headed for now.

Damn it damn it damn it damn it damn it damn it damn it.

I walk out of the UN and slowly make my way to the taxi stand. I have some calls to make. A few announcements to prepare. No matter how meaningless they are there are still things that need to be done.

By the time I get to the airport, I find this, a Times Special Edition.

Read it and weep…

Earth Surrenders!

UN Orders Unconditional Capitulation

Military and X-COM Forces To Cease Hostilities

Aliens Proclaim Era of Friendship

12 December 2003 – (AP, New York) Today, December 12 at 10:08PM EST the UN, in a historic unanimous decision representing the goverments of all the world's countries, voted to surrender unconditionally to the alien forces. “We cannot fight an enemy we cannot strike,” said UN Secretary-General Noah Duntheenkso, “The needless slaughter of innocent civilians must stop. We will trust that the alien forces will treat us with the dignity they have promised. As of 10 PM this evening, I have ordered our X-COM forces to cease hostilities and turn over their assets to UN and Alien Alliance forces peacefully. To all civilians of the world, I ask you to treat our new rulers with dignity equal to that which they have promised us.”

World reaction was sudden and joyous. After living on the brink of total panic for five days, the news that the world’s cities would be spared nuclear obivion brought outbursts of joy to civilians of all nationalities. Spontaneous celebrations have flared up worldwide. “Of course we're saddened by the tragedies of Chicago and Moscow, but the aliens have shown that they are sincere by the way that they have treated the British and French,” said Neeta Klu of the Civilians for Alien Alliance League. “We’ve been against this war all along. I’m glad we finally stopped letting X-COM dictate the world’s foreign policy and started building a world where all peoples can reap the benefits of the Alien Alliance.”

As this edition went to press, sources report that UN forces are at presently escorting alien expeditionary forces to X-COM facilities around the world, where they will begin dismantling weapon systems and demolishing bases. X-COM Commander-in-Chief Gidzolla Bletz has promised a peaceful turnover. “We will not interfere with UN soldiers and Alien Alliance troops, and will cooperate to the best of our ability.” Heavy UFO activity has been reported worldwide, as Alien Alliance forces move quickly to neutralize the world’s more traditional military structures as well.

[Tasan]

... on a vast wasteland like Houston...
Sorry about the deaths and all, but have to seen Houston since like 1988 or so? Cesspool maybe, but not a vast wasteland.

[illinifan999]

Fake surrender?

[Tasan]

Crappy, fire up what we have put together, and lets get on this thing and going before they get here! Grab the plasma clips and pass the Flying Armor! They aren't taking my rifle without it being empty and me dead first!

[hoopsguy]

Tasan, I was more interested in provoking a certain Lewisville resident ... didn't realize when I posted that there was more than one Houston guy in this dynasty. Nope, haven't been to Houston and realize it really is too big a city to be referred to as a wasteland. Although based on the collective gnashing of teeth from the media there for the SuperBowl it doesn't sound like a place I'm going to put on the travel agenda. Of course, my city is a smoking ruin ....

[Godzilla Blitz]

Update

December 12, 23:30 EST
I sit in the X-COM Lear Jet, on what willl certainly be its last flight, and punch out the saddest memo I have ever written to our brave force of X-COM agents. After an hour, it is done. I hit the send key, and off it goes…

URGENT

X-COM Eyes Only

By now you have all learned that the Earth has surrendered and that combined human and alien forces are on their way to take control of our bases. Knowing many of you personally, I imagine there are those of you who are planning some kind of heroic last stand. I order you to desist from such thoughts. We will not fight against our fellow humans, and we will not fight unwinnable battles that serve no purpose other than to alienate world opinion further against us.

Having said that, I would never be stupid enough to order you to passively walk into the hands of our alien foes. Despite their propaganda, despite their promises, and despite their actions within the Alien Allied nations, they are evil bastards that will soon turn this planet into a living hell. And if they get their hands on you, you will die painfully and slowly and without hope.

It is for the dark future that is coming that you must save your skills and strength. No matter how unlikely it seems right now, the world will need your services again. It may take years before we get there, it may not happen in our lifetimes, but you or your children will be the leaders of a movement that will overthrow the alien horde and retake possession of our beloved planet. Do not throw your lives away in vain this evening for some childish need to fight to the last man. Dieing tonight would only make it more likely that we will never rid the Earth of the yoke of alien servitude.

And so my order to you is not to give up, nor to fight, but to flee. Flee as if your life depended on it (because it does!). Grab a weapon and some ammo and flee. Flee fast and far and flee alone. And don’t look back. The UN-led forces will be at our bases between four and eight hours from now. By the time they get there, I want you all two hundred miles away. Flee with your personal transportation only. Do not even think about using one of our military craft. Just go. Mix in with the population. Find a job. Survive. Someday, somehow, I or my successor will be in touch. I promise.

Lastly, I wanted to thank you all for your sacrifice, valor, and dedication over the past year in this hellish war. For many of you, you are third and fourth sons fighting for fathers long dead. They killed so many of our men. Yet no matter how many we lost, you went into the breach of battle with a bravery that will live in legend. And we gave them a hell of a fight, didn’t we? I am damn proud of every one of you.

Godspeed. Stay alive.
Godzilla Blitz

[Kodos]

Surrender? Say it ain't so! :confused:




Say it ain't so!

[illinifan999]

No, sorry it can't end this way. We are assaulting Mars. Now. Thanks.

[Coffee Warlord]

Calling all X-Com Personnnel. Meet me at Avenger build site.

We're finishing this fucker and taking off for Mars as planned. Grab a gun and stand at post. All we have to do is hold the base for a couple days.

[illinifan999]

Calling all X-Com Personnnel. Meet me at Avenger build site.

We're finishing this fucker and taking off for Mars as planned. Grab a gun and stand at post. All we have to do is hold the base for a couple days.
Yes.

[Tasan]

Okay, so what crazy skyranger pilot wants to load us all up and take us to the build base? I got shotgun. And yes, I GOT shotgun.

[tucker342]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

[kingfc22]

Give me a damn blaster launcher.

SI, fire up the damn Avenger. We got a planet to take over and some sectoids to kill.

[Travis]

Somebody burn that damn newspaper, if nothing else I'm taking one of those sectoid ships and hitting Mars by myself if we can't get the Avenger going.

[3ric]

So the game's really over?

[Blade6119]

i cant tell...did we really come up a day short?...or is he just messing with us?

[sachmo71]

Okay, so what crazy skyranger pilot wants to load us all up and take us to the build base? I got shotgun. And yes, I GOT shotgun.

Moi.

[Godzilla Blitz]

Update

December 13, 0600 hours

100 meters outside of X-COM Command, USA COM, Fargo, North Dakota

I sit in the small, one-room underground bunker that lies a quarter mile outside the barbed wire that marks the edge of USA COM. In front of me is a series of computer monitors, through which I can monitor the happenings at any of our five bases around the world. This small communication center was built for emergencies, and this surely qualifies for one. My fingers dance on the console in front of me, and I scan screen after depressing screen.

Throughout the night I watched vehicles and men leaving our facilities, as our agents and staff obeyed my directive to flee. About an hour after the last vehicle left, a long convoy of UN vehicles burst through the gate. Men and aliens piled out of the vehicles and started immediately ransacking our bases. Shortly after that, a number of large UFOs touched down inside the compound. They’ve all been inside the USA COM base for about an hour now. Similar scenes were repeated at our other four bases. Whatever hope I had that they didn’t know about SAM COM, where our Avenger was being made, was laid to rest when a series of UFOs landed near the base about an hour ago, and aliens and humans broke into the facility about 30 minutes after that. With UN help, they pinpointed every one of our bases.

On the screens in front of me, I watch as scene after scene of destruction rages on. Aliens and UN soldiers pile weapons, armor, equipment, and machinery in the aircraft bays, then the area is cleared for an alien to fire blaster missiles into the pile. The subsequent explosions total everything they hit. Then the process is repeated, over and over. I nod with satisfaction, however, when I see a Sectoid Officer stomp away in rage from our main computer facility: Crappy must have been thorough in destroying the records of our existence. Every agent, engineer, and scientist that worked for X-COM has been erased from our data banks. We are all unknown. This will surely upset the UN, but I have no intention of ever showing my face there again. I would be a dead within a day if the aliens get their hands on me, and if I show up in public, they would get their hands on me.

Despite my stoic mindset, it’s tremendously painful to watch our nearly complete Avenger take a series of blaster missile hits at SAM COM. We were so close to ending it all tomorrow. Just 24 hours short. By the time they’re done, the craft is blown into pieces small enough to fit in your pocket. I never did pick the pilot for the mission, but I guess some details take care of themselves. By 6:17 AM, Earth’s hope for winning the war has been destroyed, and I have seen enough.

I power the station down, put my winter jacket on, and the head up the 50-foot ladder of the subterranean emergency facility to the cold surface above. I pop open the hatch and step outside. I check for signs of soldiers and aliens, but it is still dark, and my car has been well hidden. I doubt I will see any aliens out here this morning. I pull the camouflage off the non-descript, blue 94’ Honda Civic that has been left for me, start the engine, and head down the dirt road away from the base. A few minutes later the heat kicks in, and I get myself comfortable for the drive.

About an hour later I’m in downtown Fargo. The sky is just starting to show signs of light to the east. I cruise down Main Street, looking for the sign that I have only seen once before. After a few minutes I find it: Miss Terry’s Fortunes. I pull up to the sidewalk, stop the car, and wait. The light in the shop is on. A minute later the door opens, and Miss Terry steps out. She’s wearing thick winter gear, and has a small suitcase in her hand. She looks at me and braves a smile. I do likewise. She walks to the car, opens the backdoor, puts her suitcase on the seat, and closes the door. She opens the front passenger door, gets in, and closes the door. She looks at me.

“You could have called and told me you were coming,” she says with a wry smile.

I chuckle. One of the advantages of working with people who can see the future is that it makes planning real easy. “What could I possibly tell you that you don’t already know? And by the way, you could have told me about everything that was going to happen. You knew the whole time, didn’t you? About the nukes? The death? Everything?”

She looks down, is quiet for a moment. “Yes, but it was too painful, and I didn’t understand then what it all meant. Sometimes I only get images, not the whole picture.” She forces the smile again. “We’re going north?”

“Yup.”

And with that I pull away from the curb. By noon we’re over the Canadian border. The snow outside is a foot-deep. We keep going north, far away from the towns and villages where the aliens will start rounding up civilians.

[Kodos]

Ermmm. Time for a resim?

[3ric]

*fade*

THE END

*standing ovation from the audience*

[wade moore]

Ermmm. Time for a resim?

Commander Kodos, tell me our hard work all of these years has not led us to just leave our men to die on this hell hole?

[JeeberD]

What. The. Hell?

It CANNOT end this way...

[JeeberD]

Dola-

Tasan, I was more interested in provoking a certain Lewisville resident...

Hey... :(

Anywho, Lewisville is actually a Dallas suburb. So if not for the Astros, Rockets, and a few friends I have that live there (and that includes Tasan, who ain't bad for an Aggie ;) ), I wouldn't really care what you say about Houston... :p

[Fonzie]

No!

[thealmighty]

Major suckage. :(

[tucker342]

GB I think it's time for your computer to "accidently" freeze so that we can go back and invade Mars like we were supposed to.:D

Fantastic dynasty. Hopefulliy it will come back someday and we willl finally be able to take out the aliens.

[kingfc22]

doh, April Fool's was almost 3 months ago.

I think SI and his men were able to move the Avenger before the aliens got there.

One can hope, right???

[Katon]

Yes, move it and then invent a convincing fake.

[Glengoyne]

*fade*

THE END

*standing ovation from the audience*
Absolutely a fantastic ride GB.

Though I am still holding out hope for a new cinematic ending that comes after this Fade to black.

/stands and applaudes.

[Travis]

Hey, if you're coming up to Canada, we could start work on an intergalactic dog sled, I've got room for at least 8 more in my igloo, give me two weeks to build an addition and we could fit at least 20...

[Sublime]

Alternates

Here are our five alternates for the mission:

1. Fat Football II
2. Breeze
3. Sublime II
4. Patman II
5. ShaefIllini



Pissed i missed all the other things that went on...but happy i still got selected as an alternate. Go X-COM!

[SirFozzie]

We ain't dead yet ;)

[Rich1033]

End or not, I still want to thank GB for putting his time and effort into this dynasty. Great read.

[RawIsDan]

Wow..this sucks. :(

[Qwikshot]

Yes it was great.

[RawIsDan]

Forgot to add this but despite the ending it was a great dynasty. Nice Job GB. :)

[Tasan]

I don't think this is the ending...but everyone keep quiet, Sectoid Leader might be reading!!!

[Raven Hawk]

Raven Hawk II sits on his bunk slumped over, with a piece of paper laying idly beside him. The memo is of dire news, it was orders to evacuate X-Com, given by Godzilla Blitz.

This is unfair. These aliens had killed his father. These aliens had killed his mother. Now the earth surrendurs? Bastards. In less than twenty four hours, he was scheduled to board a transport that would have taken him to SAM COM, to the hiding place of the Avenger. The last hope for mankind.

Now, the orders came to evacuate, to flee from the aliens who would be coming to the bases shortly to obliterate the last vestiges of X-Com. Raven would comply with orders. He would flee.

Walking into the armory, Raven looked over the vast store of weapons and armor. Flying Suits, Power Armor, Blaster Launchers, Laser Rifles, Heavy Plasma Guns and various other munitions. Raven instinctively reached for his Heavy Plasma. Only three notches were etched into the butt of this weapon. He had planned for more. But this would not be his destiny. Raven withdrew his hand, knowing that possessing any alien technology would be a red flag to any aliens that set up check points. Instead, he turned his attention to a less conspicuous shotgun and a box of ammo.

With a last stroll down the Hall of Heroes, Raven pried his dead father's picture from the wall. He looked at it briefly and said a few words:

"Dad, I'm sorry that I couldn't save Mom. I'm sorry that I let you down. I will keep fighting the good fight. I will not let the aliens take my freedom. I will not let the aliens take our hope."

With that Raven threw the picture into his backpack on top of a store of provisions and headed out to the motor pool. Since his own car was back in the USA, Raven selected a non-descript Volkswagon that had been brought to the base. He started the car and headed for the exit. Reaching into his backpack, he pulled out a CD and put it into the car's CD player.

Raven left the facility by the western gate, following a short line of ex-X-Com agents in their own vehicles. He noticed that it was about sunset and briefly jested at the coincidence.

"And they drove off into the sunset . . ."

Raven stepped on the gas and hit the Play button on his CD player.

And I'm staring down the barrel of a 45,
Swimming through the ashes of another life
No real reason to accept the way things have changed
Staring down the barrel of a 45 . . .

[Alf]

Raid on Mars !

[JeffNights]

Damn....Did we get Punked????

[JeeberD]

So I'm still waiting for GB to come on and say that he just heard from SI and that the destroyed Avenger was just a decoy and that we'll be launching at any moment...

Either that or that the whole Chicago incident was just a dream and that he's been watching too many Dallas reruns...

[Poli]

Dang. :(

I just got back from that NASCAR weekend to find I set the record for kills, got a ticket to blow up Mars, and now it's apparently over.

I'm headed for Galesburg (unofficial) COM. I'll meet you at the Nielsen Elementary, CW.

[Godzilla Blitz]

Update

December 14, 1000 hours

Roadside gas station, Meander River, Alberta

I pump the road-filthy Civic with gas and stomp my feet to get the blood flowing. Miss Terry is picking out some food in the convenience store beside the station. Despite my thick winter coat, gloves, and boots, the -15 degree temperature makes things a little unpleasant, especially after sitting still in a car for almost 30 hours. This far north, it’s still dark outside, and it won’t get very light even at midday. I look around at the frozen landscape and shake my head: there’s got to be at least a meter of snow on the ground now and it’s only early December. Why anyone would choose to live here is beyond me. Still, it should be safe up here for a while, even considering all that is happening around the planet.

We tag-team drove and slept all day yesterday and through the night, as we worked to get as much distance from us and the large North American cities as possible. Although we saw packs of UFOs yesterday morning, by late afternoon we were far enough north that we’ve seen only an occasional scout UFO since then. Throughout the day we listened to the radio. The news was about as expected.

Despite UN protests, by nine yesterday morning, the president of the United States had been taken by UFO off-world. By ten, the aliens had deposed the leaders of most of the world’s major countries and replaced them with Sectoid administrative teams. The sheer numbers of UFOs over the Earth was staggering, and their efficiency in neutralizing military hardware was brutally impressive. After X-COM, they went for nuclear arsenals and national space programs. By noon, they were all firmly in alien hands. NASA’s Florida and Houston operations were reduced to rubble by two in the afternoon. Traditional military forces and commercial transportation services followed. Incredibly, by early evening, less than 20 hours after the surrender, more than half of the world’s military hardware was reported as being firmly under the control of the alien forces. By six, all commercial air traffic out of major airports had been shut down, and there were unconfirmed reports that the aliens were starting to systematically blow up large commercial aircraft.

After early evening, even the satellite radio in the Honda had trouble getting reliable news, as the aliens either shut down or jammed media broadcasts across the planet. The rest of this is sketchy, but by late evening it seems that UFOs had cordoned a number of small cities around the world and began herding the population onto huge transportation craft: the aliens called these cities the “lucky first winners”, and their citizens “brave colonists for Earth’s new worlds”. Most of the reports we heard last night were from Bismark, North Dakota, one of the cities chosen. Although a small percentage of the people there apparently embraced the chance to go on the UFOs, most were reluctant. Some were openly defiant, and there were reports of brief yet violent skirmishes between residents and aliens. Armed with only hunting rifles, pistols, and knives, the humans apparently had no chance. The numbers are unreliable, of course, but we heard reports of anywhere from 10 to 500 civilian deaths compared to only 1-10 alien deaths.

Throughout the night, we heard brief, scratchy reports of activity, all of it unconfirmed. There were many claims that the aliens had started shutting down the Earth’s communication channels: Internet, cell phone, and traditional phone lines mostly. There were occasional reports of scattered alien atrocities: murder, rape, and cannibalism. By morning, the aliens had gotten their own media services running, and since then all we’ve heard are proclamations of peace, good will, and “eyewitness” reports of joyous celebrations world-wide. According to the aliens, the residents of Bismark and the other cities literally ran to embrace the transportation ships. Supposedly there were festivals, parties, events for the kiddies. About an hour ago, I turned the radio off. It’s too painful to bear. I shake my head when I think of the stupidity behind it all: to save two more cities from nuclear attack, we sacrifice the entire planet. Morons.

The click of the pump nozzle as it hits full snaps me out of my daydream. I put the nozzle back in the pump and start for the convenience mart to pay cash for everything we’re getting. It’s then that it dawns on me that this was supposed to be D-Day. I was supposed to be sending our troops off on what surely would have been humanity’s most important military endeavor. Instead, I’m buying Snickers bars, Coke, and regular gas in a frozen village in the middle of the Canadian wilderness. How ironic, I think, that on the day I was to launch the most sophisticated aerospace vehicle that man has ever produced, I am instead relegated to buying gas for a nine-year old Civic with nearly 100,000 miles on it. How fast we fall. I sigh, shake my head again in resignation. Got to keep moving. Never give up. No matter what. Never give up.

By 10:15, we’re back on the road again.

[Poli]

Sigh. :(

[MikeVic]

:( Great read, though. :D

[jfbbis]

Great dynasty, whatever the ending !

[SirFozzie]

You're still funnin us.. right GB?

I think we need a rope... ;)

[thealmighty]

Anyone hear the fat lady? I ain't heard no singin'.

X-COM...X-COM...X-COM...X-COM...X-COM...

[Raven Hawk]

This is an unexpected turn in the story which makes for great drama.

Excellent stuff, GB!

[revrew]

When does the DVD come out with the alternative ending?

[Travis]

Update

This far north, it’s still dark outside, and it won’t get very light even at midday. I look around at the frozen landscape and shake my head: there’s got to be at least a meter of snow on the ground now and it’s only early December. Why anyone would choose to live here is beyond me.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOURNS!

At the very least, shovelling snow beats earthquakes, tornado's and hurricane's. And for those 3 days of summer......

[jerk3616]

If this is true, and we've really lost, it looks like anal probes for the lot of us. :(

Thanks for the ride, GB. I'll be watching for the next one.

[Lokugh]

Great mission writeup GB, and great story to follow. I have my suspicions you are just leading the aliens away from our Avenger base so we can launch< g >

Lokugh

PS: If we do get a mission to Mars, you might try running them through agressive. I went through the whole base and only barely saw an alien :)

[Swaggs]

Uhm... hey guys... we aren't really done, are we? :(

[kingfc22]

This just keeps getting better. I just hope it ends with a trip to Mars.

Great job GB, either way.

[tucker342]

I really hope I smell a plot twist on the way...

[Fonzie]

I really hope I smell a plot twist on the way...

Sorry. That, um, that was me. I had tacos for dinner. :redface:

[klayman]

Wow...I missed a lot of stuff.

[SplitPersonality1]

I miss a few days and I find out we got taken out...with a shot to the groin?!? Yikes!

Great stuff as always GB. If this is the tue ending to X-COM II, great job and sign me up up for X-COM III. If not, SplitP IV is ready and willing to serve.

[3ric]

He's searching the X-COM forums for a hack that'll enable him to say "F*ck surrender"

[Alf]

Or he is just preparing another Thread for the final X-Com battle !

[fantastic flying froggies]

I don't know wether I should be sad it's over or glad that the story continues and has even improved (I never even thought that was possible !)

And deep down inside, I'm still hoping... the light still shines...

[Poli]

Don't let this end like my Walk On dynasty.

[sachmo71]

He's searching the X-COM forums for a hack that'll enable him to say "F*ck surrender"

LOL!

It's called the McAuliffe Hack and it simply says "Nuts!"

[RealDeal]

It's time to kill some alien slime!

[Godzilla Blitz]

Moving to a new thread.

X-COM II: The Earth's Revenge (The Final Encounter) (http://dynamic2.gamespy.com/~fof/forums/showthread.php?t=27305&referrerid=217)

:)