“We cannot stay here long. My former employers will pull every string they have to bear as much of their power onto us. They do not like how I have made a fool of them.” The VIP adds. “Your equipment and gear may be fancy, but they will overwhelm us.”

It’s true. You saw the tests shortly after being recruited into XCOM, your armor can take a lot of hits from small arms, but it’s not impervious. Your frest alloy plate should help your own survivability a lot as well, but all it takes is one lucky shot to tag you or your other squadmates...

“Shut it!” Rook barks at the VIP. “Squad, hold position and wait for my orders!”

“We do not have the time. I have an idea to get out of this skirmish if you give me the opportunity to help. My own life is at stake as well, after all..” The VIP reiterates calmly. Even in the middle of a firefight the VIP seems experienced and focused in this engagement.

“Be quiet! We only need your briefcase not you!” Rook orders again at the VIP. The VIP merely frowns slightly and complies, holding the briefcase close to his person. He’d probably have handcuffed it to himself if he had some.

Now, while he probably does have something in mind, you have a few ideas kicking in your head as well. This is not your first rodeo either in fact, you reckon the Triads are not too different from the Cartels you’ve cracked skulls prior to XCOM. You don’t even know if you can trust this ex-Triad VIP, you can’t deny there’s a distinct possibility he might reconsider his allegiances or this was a trap all along. Rook seems to have the same doubts as you do given the VIP. However, he would know best how to fight his former colleagues and they seem very intent on killing the VIP. Maybe suggesting to listen his advise might get everyone out of here alive?

More and more shouts are heard as more triads enter the scene. Just how many of them are there?

>Give Rook the time he needs. You need to trust his command you and the others out of this situation.
>Let the VIP advise the situation. You’d trust him as well as you could throw him, but he is a tool and could be a useful one at that.
>Suggest your own advice. As former SWAT, your previous experience against criminals might give your team an edge.
>Other

>>2016753
>>Suggest your own advice. As former SWAT, your previous experience against criminals might give your team an edge.

>>2016753
>Suggest your own advice. As former SWAT, your previous experience against criminals might give your team an edge.

Now here is the important bit:
Over advice but ultimately defer to Rook no matter what.

>>2016753
>>Suggest your own advice. As former SWAT, your previous experience against criminals might give your team an edge.

>>2016753
>Suggest your own advice. As former SWAT, your previous experience against criminals might give your team an edge.

>>2016759
>>2016768
>>2016776
>>2016802
Suggesting advice it is, writing!

File: This is your squad for tonight.png (327 KB, 2190x1252)

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Right, this may be taken completely the wrong way, but as long as you say it carefully and with a little bit of luck you might get the squad back on the right foot with you. After all, nothing makes or breaks a unit more than a firefight and with the frantic and more organized shouts of chinese from your assailants you might need it. You scan the area, assessing the situation. First at the multi-story chinese temple behind you, then the side pathways of the cemetery, and finally spotting a couple of the triads in particular staying in the back barking orders and pointing suspects into positions. You definitely have options here.

“Rook!” You call out to him over the shooting. “I have an idea!”

“You have your order, trooper! Hold your position!” Rook snaps back. It’s less of a bite more a stern reminder through the firefight, if that makes any sense. With the natural stress and pressure of battle Rook’s back to his professional attitude. You could use that to talk the best way to Rook, with tactics. The VIP pauses looking at both you and at Rook, you ignore him.

“Just hear me out! This is my old occupation and I know how this shit works, I’ve been in this exact situation multiple times!” You insist. The ghettos in Phoenix come to mind, old memories of missions going out of hand very quickly all because of even the slightest bit of misinformation. Like cornered animals, criminals will pull anything and everything out of their disposal.

“...” Rook considers for tense few seconds, precious time wasted over you as he peeks over his cover to see the enemy ahead of you then back to the squad who are holding their ground for the moment before he comes to his decision. “Fine! I’m listening, Make it quick!”

The VIP continues to regard you before you see him come to a realization at who you are and then positions himself behind Rook, putting your SL between him and you. You smirk a bit at that, it does feel a bit nice when criminals know their place.

>Push them back! At best some of them have kevlar vests and assault rifle or two. It’s nothing compared to what XCOM has. One counterpush could shatter them. Loki’s grenades could be decisive here.
>Fighting Retreat! Fall back into the temple behind you and get your team in better positions to defend the area. Peppermint with the high ground could make a huge difference.
>Flank them! You and Harita with the help of the squad can push up from the sides and flush them out.
>Focus on the leaders, neutralizing them will have the remaining crooks scatter. Rook can help in identifying and taking them out.
>Other

File: ALAR84fl.jpg (47 KB, 524x640)

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>>2016942
>Focus on the leaders, neutralizing them will have the remaining crooks scatter. Rook can help in identifying and taking them out.

They aren't exactly professional soldiers, but they must have a few with experience in a fight.

>>2016942
>>Focus on the leaders, neutralizing them will have the remaining crooks scatter. Rook can help in identifying and taking them out.
Criminals are a superstitious cowardly lot, so taking out the few leaders they have will result in the rest running.

>>2016942
>Focus on the leaders, neutralizing them will have the remaining crooks scatter. Rook can help in identifying and taking them out.

>>2016942
>>Focus on the leaders, neutralizing them will have the remaining crooks scatter. Rook can help in identifying and taking them out.
>We have laser weapons that alone will drop their morale. If their leaders fall they will fold faster than a sectoid face does to an 8 gauge.

>>2016953
>>2016963
>>2016987
>>2016997
Headhunting the leaders it is, writing!

File: Hong Kong Cemetary.png (1.07 MB, 1599x735)

1.07 MB PNG

“Take out their lieutenants and sergeants and they’ll scatter!” You explain hastily.”Criminals are a cowardly and superstitious lot after all!”

Rook assess the situation and your advice as well, before nodding. He can see the merit on that.

“Alright! Squad, focus fire on anyone who looks like they know what they’re doing! Dozer, stay put and wait for my signal!”

Harita, Loki, and Peppermint quickly comply doing what they can to help. Peppermint’s las sniper rifle buzzes in the air as a streak of red impacts someone with an assault rifle, a clean headshot as the burnt remains sizzle and drop onto the ground. Loki shoulders her grenade launcher, aims, and launches an HE causing a group of triads to scatter from the gravestones they were using as cover. Harita, spots a cunning criminal with a shotgun coming from the sides blasts her at close range with her scatter laser before the criminal can even raise her gun. The wooden walls burning and scorching spray of laser fire and dropping the triad.

You wait patiently, ready to dash out at a moment’s notice. It’s all about the ‘go’. Waiting for the exact millisecond before either a flashbang goes off in the room you are about to clear or the OK from your team lead.

“One at the cherry blossom at the center! Leather jacket, floral shirt! Go!” Rook identifies and orders. You’re off, dashing at full speed on go to meet the suspect dead on. Blasts of laser fire shoot past and around you as Rook provides covering fire for your advance.

>Roll 1d20+4

Rolled 17 + 4 (1d20 + 4)

>>2017135
pew pew

Rolled 7 + 4 (1d20 + 4)

>>2017135

Rolled 10 + 4 (1d20 + 4)

>>2017135

File: Scatterlaser.jpg (116 KB, 988x1200)

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While you usually weren’t pointman back in the day, you still had an important job in being the second or third in the room or pushing out to sweep and clear an area of suspects. While one is trained pretty heavily to steel oneselves crossing the distance, where the length of a door to another end of a wall might as well be miles away with shooters in the room your experience and times you’ve helped in kicking doors in and following has at the very least helped reign in that primal fear of not wanting to get shot.

As you sprint out from the cover of your low wall to cross across the open cemetery towards the cherry blossom tree you don’t let any doubts cross you. Hell, at least it’s not alien plasma shots.

The triads attempt to stop you but your team’s combined efforts alongside Rook’s suppression keeps their heads down long enough to get only a minimal exchange of fire your way, and even then you move fast enough to not give them any other openings. The apparent leader sees you making a beeline for you and with wide eyes attempts to spray you with his assault rifle wildly. You slide into cover, pointing your shotgun at the enemy as you blast him with your scatterlaser. The kick is practically nonexistent as your temporarily blinded by bright red laser shooting out from your weapons lenses.

You see the look of horror reflected in the crooks eyes as searing hot laser tears through his meagre clothes and flesh as if it were nothing. He drops over the side of the raised platform for where the cherry blossom rests out of view. Clothes burnt and scorched.

While you didn't expect your first chance to use the scatterlaser would be on other humans, you can't help but feel satisfied with just how powerful of a weapon you have in your hands is.

Immediately his death ripples outwards into fear and shock from his lesser subordinates as their morale begins to crack and shatter, the death of their better and the weapons and gear you all are equipped with is becoming very prevalent just how outclassed they are, barring their numbers. Several are taken down by your team alone in this moment of hesitance but many more remain.

>Press the advantage! Take out as many you can and as quickly as you can while they are disorganized their morale is cracking, it's time to shatter it.
>Secure the ground you covered. Give your team time to push out and take better positions.
>Reposition closer to the squad. They’re scared and confused and some might be suicidal and panicked enough to rush you and catch you by surprise.
>Other

>>2017286
>Secure the ground you covered. Give your team time to push out and take better positions.

>>2017286
>>Secure the ground you covered. Give your team time to push out and take better positions.

>>2017286
>>Secure the ground you covered. Give your team time to push out and take better positions.

>>2017286
>Secure the ground you covered. Give your team time to push out and take better positions

>>2017286
>>Secure the ground you covered. Give your team time to push out and take better positions.

Haha, home from work. Time for XCOM Trooper.

>>2017300
>>2017310
>>2017312
>>2017343
>>2017351
Securing ground it is, writing!

File: XCOM Engages.jpg (682 KB, 1440x1000)

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As tempting as it is to push forward and crack more skulls, you reign yourself in knowing that you might overextend and suddenly be put in the fire asking to help your squad instead of the other way around. The raised platform you are taking cover behind is a strong point that if you can hold the others in the team can advance and use it to push out of the killbox you’ve found yourself in.

You check both sides, trying to get a good angle on the suspects, making sure to keep them at bay from getting any closer. If you can gatekeep well enough you can make a rather effective no man’s land to give your team the time it is to push up with the VIP safely in tow. Dashing to both sides and exchanging with a few blasts from your scatterlaser is enough to keep them back and think twice as Loki and Rook toss smoke grenades on the flanks and begin to move up with the VIP towards your position. Harita dashes across and moves to cover beside you with a nod.

So far so g-

“Above!” You hear Peppermint call out to you and bring her rifle to bear and sure enough you see a pair of triads attempt to blast you from above. It seems that these two are either the personal bodyguards of their now deceased boss, having crawled out of sight above you, or these two are suicidal and wish to avenge their fallen leader! They waited for the exact moment when the smokes were launched to surprise you and Harita, so perhaps it’s erring towards the latter.

No time to think as they are about to pull the trigger on you!

>Open fire! Try and blast them both at close range and try and tank the small arms fire. You both should be able take their fire with your armor.
>Move back! Trust your squad to take them down and focus on the taking cover with Harita.
>Make an example of them! They’re close enough for you to grab both of them and pull them over, not to mention Harita can use her sword. Risky but it might cause the remnants to rout.
>Other

>>2017504
>>Open fire! Try and blast them both at close range and try and tank the small arms fire. You both should be able take their fire with your armor.
Fire fire fire!

>>2017504
>Open fire! Try and blast them both at close range and try and tank the small arms fire. You both should be able take their fire with your armor.

>>2017504
>>Move back! Trust your squad to take them down and focus on the taking cover with Harita.
Avoid taking damage when possible.

>>2017504
>>Move back! Trust your squad to take them down and focus on the taking cover with Harita.

>>2017504
>>Open fire! Try and blast them both at close range and try and tank the small arms fire. You both should be able take their fire with your armor.

>>2017504
>Move back! Trust your squad to take them down and focus on the taking cover with Harita.
I think we should play it safe to avoid giving rook an aneurysm for the time being

>>2017504
>>Move back! Trust your squad to take them down and focus on the taking cover with Harita.
Lets go one mission without tanking enemy fire okay?

>>2017528
>>2017536
>>2017572
>>2017613
Moving back it is, writing!

File: 601px-NCIS_FBI_SWAT_operator.jpg (41 KB, 601x338)

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After being on the receiving end of both plasma fire and normal gunfire, you’d rather not experience getting shot again again if given the chance. You’re fairly certain your armor can take it and shrug it off, but you never know when that one bullet that hit it could’ve lead to one’s last. For all you know they might be packing AP rounds or something, you never know what kit a professional criminal has at their disposal.

For once being a bit cautious is not a bad idea.

“Move back!” You call out and begin to scramble back to the nearest gravestone for cover, Harita follows suit after spotting you dash back. The triads see their opportunity and begin to open fire, unloading their rifles at both of you with wild abandon.

Move move move! You really really hope their aim is absolutely terrible and your legs can move fast enough so you don’t get winged. Your ears ring as bullets whiz and the ground around you is kicked up by bullet impacts from the close range fire as you dash as quickly as possible.

>Roll 1d20+2

Rolled 9 + 2 (1d20 + 2)

>>2017685

Rolled 2 + 2 (1d20 + 2)

>>2017685

Rolled 16 + 2 (1d20 + 2)

>>2017685

File: Activity.png (362 KB, 535x535)

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Rolled 1, 13, 11, 11 = 36 (4d20)

...

>>2017716
Maybe one of them shot his buddy. Rookie aim and all.

>>2017716
Place your bets ladies and gentlemen I'm guessing that's Rook

File: Man Down.jpg (13 KB, 480x270)

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Rolled 2, 7, 6, 5 = 20 (4d20)

You make it to cover successfully, diving into the safety of cover of one of the many gravestones and markers. In your haste you knock over a still smoking thing of incense, the sticks falling and clattering on the grave, kicking up the incense and ashes aside.

Harita however is not so lucky, catching onto a small mound on the once originally well maintained grounds turned into a small battlefield filled with pockmarked grown, ditches made from grenades, and the once hallowed ground completely desecrated with tombstones shattered and crumbled. Your fellow Assault trips and falls face first onto the ground, exposing herself right then and there to one of the suspects. She attempts to turn around and salvage the situation, pointing her scatterlaser clumsily in the enemy’s direction. She’s not fast enough.

Harita is peppered with a burst of assault rifle ammo in the chest, a pained yelp as the impacts hit her armor. A stray round ricochets, digging into the soft ground close to you.

Rook doesn’t hesitate and with two bursts of fire from his laser rifle he manages to down one of the triads instantly a look of fury on his face as the rest of the squad comes to bear on the other who only just manages to duck behind cover. Harita is down from the point-blank burst of assault rifle rounds and could possibly be injured or worse so the thought of dragging her to safety quickly flashes in your mind, but with the shooter right there, you might be able to take him down for good and secure the top of the small platform where the Cherry Blossom resides while running the risk of being exposed temporarily to the enemy.

>Pull Harita to safety. No time for heroics with a teammate down, the squad can suppress the remaining shooter.
>Push towards the Cherry Blossom. Secure the high ground, the squad can secure Harita.
>Other.

>>2017802
(Whoops don't mind those dice rolls! Also it's pretty hard for some reason to find a downed XCOM soldier for some reason. How strange!)

>>2017802
>>Pull Harita to safety. No time for heroics with a teammate down, the squad can suppress the remaining shooter.

>>2017802
>>Pull Harita to safety. No time for heroics with a teammate down, the squad can suppress the remaining shooter.

>>2017802
>>Pull Harita to safety. No time for heroics with a teammate down, the squad can suppress the remaining shooter.
Oh look, trying to be defensive with an Assault class and teammate gets paid for it. I swear one bad mission turned people into pussies. We're Assault, we're Meant to risk hits and hit back twice as hard.

>>2017802
>>Pull Harita to safety. No time for heroics with a teammate down, the squad can suppress the remaining shooter.

>>2017802
>>Pull Harita to safety. No time for heroics with a teammate down, the squad can suppress the remaining shooter.

Squadmate down. Oh boy.

>>2017802
>Pull Harita to safety. No time for heroics with a teammate down, the squad can suppress the remaining shooter.

>>2017819
Usually I'd have argued against going head first but that specific moment was a good time to go offensive. The enemy was retreating, We'd secured a good position for the team to advance, they only had two guys aiming at us with ballistics weapons that would likely require twice as many guys to actually pierce our armor and we were in close range WITH A SHOT GUN.

>>2017802
>>Pull Harita to safety. No time for heroics with a teammate down, the squad can suppress the remaining shooter.

>>2017819
I voted we go, but guess people had other plans.

>>2017812
>>2017817
>>2017819
>>2017820
>>2017823
>>2017837
>>2017839
Pulling Harita to safety it is, writing!

>>2017837
And before people pull that we'd probably end up like Harita Bullshit, Just ignoring the fact that the only reason she got peppered was because she tripped trying to stay in cover.

We're wearing alloy plating that can stop plasma.

>>2017802
>>Pull Harita to safety. No time for heroics with a teammate down, the squad can suppress the remaining shooter.
AND
Put your shotgun on your back if it has a strap

File: Triad Contact.jpg (54 KB, 1280x720)

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Letting your scatterlaser fall to your side you feel it’s sling go taut on your chest as the sturdy weapon clatters against you as you move to grab Harita. With grasping her you pull her back behind the cover you are behind with a grunt, your fellow Assault wincing and sputtering something in Nepalese as you bring her to safety. You get a cursory glance as you see Rook suppress the wall and Loki pulling the pin on a grenade.

Peppermint and the VIP move over beside you as you quickly check on Harita.

Her armor looks like it’s been shredded by the triad’s bullets. Any normal caliber weapon would have not done much so it’s clear that the damn crook had armor piercing rounds. Why the hell do they have AP rounds? You guess the triads are either embedded in the government or acquired military shipments through underhanded means, but why bring AP rounds when initially trying to get the VIP?

“She’ll be fine, but her armor won’t be able to take much else.” Peppermint grunts, pausing to check as well before thumping on Harita’s shoulder reassuringly and going back to providing overwatch on the buildings. Peppermint snaps her rifle to the side and opens fire, as you hear someone in a window above you scream.

“Maa Chikni!” Harita curses aloud squirming a bit. You feel the grenade Loki primed go off and hear the satisfactory scream of the triad and instinctively move to cover Harita from the stray rubble and debris. “I am fine, really!”

You begin to help Harita back onto her knees and turn to see VIP eying you both, suitcase still clutched in on hand.

“Allow me to help.” The VIP says to you and the girls. “I would rather not be dead weight. I can pull my own weight.”

“No! You are a criminal! You can turn the weapon on us!” Harita says with a bit more bite in her voice than you expect, it seems getting shot can make even the demure Harita irritable.
“Another gun would help.” Peppermint comments neutrally, reloading a fresh battery onto her rifle.

“Why would I turn my back on the only allies I have?” The VIP reasons.

>Never, you don’t know who he is and what he’s capable of. He may have betrayed the triads but he’s still criminal scum.
>You’ll ask Rook when you get the chance, no promises.
>From what you seen, you might need all the help you can get and he has a point. Hand him your laser pistol
>Other

>>2017936
>>You’ll ask Rook when you get the chance, no promises.

>>2017936
>>From what you seen, you might need all the help you can get and he has a point. Hand him your laser pistol
He called us here, and it doesn't seem like we would be people the Triads would want to entrap.

>>2017936
>From what you seen, you might need all the help you can get and he has a point. Hand him your laser pistol.

>>2017936
>>From what you seen, you might need all the help you can get and he has a point. Hand him your laser pistol
It's fine, this is Zhang, he wouldn't betray his new allies when he was willing to burn all of his own old connections just to help us.

>>2017936
>>Other
Even though he seems trust worthy we can't risk his life trying to provide fire support. If he wants to help have him watch the flanks for any enemies and call out leaders but tell him if it seems like he'll get fired at at all to hunker down

>>2017936
>>Other
>Hand him the pistol but add
"ANY friendly fire and you will suffer for it"

>>2017948
>>2017954
>>2017959
>>2017970
Letting him help it is, writing!

I sorta miss the projectile shotgun. So many types of ammunition to choose from.

File: Spoiler Image (56 KB, 725x425)

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“Prove yourself fast. I’m sticking my neck out for you, don’t make regret it.” You say as you reach over to your laser pistol, holding it in your hands… and promptly handing it over to him. Harita’s eyes go wide at this before gritting her teeth and shaking her head vigorously, to get herself to focus. Peppermint glances over and nods to you before turning back to eyeing above.

“A fine weapon.” The former criminal says with a slow nod, taking a quick moment to inspect it, quickly figuring out how to operate the weapon. “Thank you.”

“Remember what I said.” You say again, glaring at him as you stand back up and grip your scatterlaser back in your hands.

“I will. And my name is Zhang. It is easier to say than ‘criminal’ in a firefight.” He says matching your glare and not faltering on your gaze with a nod.

Hopefully Rook won’t be too upset. Hopefully.

As the four of you begin to move up to Loki and Rook, the smoke grenades on the side finally dissipating you see the pair pause as you hear the sounds of more gunfire and screaming… but not in your direction. Rook and Loki take a glance towards you and the others as you stack up underneath the cherry blossom, his eyes darting over to Zhang and your laser pistol. Rook rolls his eyes and Loki raises an eyebrow before the pair turn their attention back ahead. You peek over to the side and see that the triads are retreating but are being met with contact up ahead.

“Dark Sky to Strike-1, I got good news and bad news.” Your Skyranger pilot speaks up over the comms, looking up you can see the hovering form of the dropship safely high up in the air, providing an eye in the sky.

“Give us both.” Rook grunts.

“Well, good news is you scared off the crooks, bad news is the aliens did it. I can land close for evac as soon as you clear ‘em out and-- heads up incoming!”

You hear their warbled and twisted screeches in the air as a pack of Floaters soars in from above, darting through the roofs and neon billboards straight to your destination!

"Took them long enough!" Loki says.

“Spread out and take them out! Ranger hold position with the VIP!” Rook orders and your team begins to move, Zhang thankfully staying back but taking position to provide supporting fire should the opportunity presents itself. Harita follows his order but is clearly wary of Zhang.

>Move up as quickly as possible to close the distance. With their ability to fly you need to get as close as possible to engage with your scatter laser.
>Go wide and try and get an angle to the side on them, Floaters are like charging bulls that happen to fly and have plasma weapons after all.
>Run distraction and get them shooting at you. They like shooting anything exposed and hone in on that, it will give your team an opening.
>Other.

>>2018064

>Go wide and try and get an angle to the side on them, Floaters are like charging bulls that happen to fly and have plasma weapons after all.

>>2018064
>>Move up as quickly as possible to close the distance. With their ability to fly you need to get as close as possible to engage with your scatter laser.
>Run distraction and get them shooting at you. They like shooting anything exposed and hone in on that, it will give your team an opening.

Flush them into the open for your team to hammer.

>>2018064
>>Go wide and try and get an angle to the side on them, Floaters are like charging bulls that happen to fly and have plasma weapons after all.

>>2018064
>Move up as quickly as possible to close the distance. With their ability to fly you need to get as close as possible to engage with your scatter laser.

>>2018064
>>Move up as quickly as possible to close the distance. With their ability to fly you need to get as close as possible to engage with your scatter laser.
It's the job I guess.

>>2018064
>>Move up as quickly as possible to close the distance. With their ability to fly you need to get as close as possible to engage with your scatter laser.
Gogogo! need to stop them before they fly and get behind everyone else!

>>2018078
>>2018083
>>2018085
>>2018073
Moving up it is, writing!

File: Floater.png (153 KB, 400x300)

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Rolled 2, 17, 8, 7 = 34 (4d20)

OK. Running overwatch by a bunch of scared criminals was just the warm up. Now it’s time for the real dance with the devil. Pulling a pin on your flashbang grenade you start off your run with a bright opener. Your team ducking out the way the moment you call it out. With a heave you send the flashbang hurtling towards

You take a breath as you hear the familiar deafening sound of the flashbang going off and the screeches from the Floaters as you dash out to close the distance. Whatever bullshit the aliens used to frankenstein the things means that while they can get stunned it’s not for very long. But you and your squad hopefully only need just that a mere moment.

Several are flailing about from the disorientating blast while a few seemed to have been quick enough to shield themselves. They quickly train their weapon you as your squad brings their own weapons to bare.

Feet don’t fail now!

>Roll 1d20+3

Has anyone died yet.

Rolled 19 + 3 (1d20 + 3)

>>2018189

Rolled 12 + 3 (1d20 + 3)

>>2018189

Rolled 15 + 3 (1d20 + 3)

>>2018189

File: [ALIEN ACTIVITY].png (94 KB, 699x104)

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Rolled 4, 11 = 15 (2d20)

>>2018195
...

File: Dozer.jpg (70 KB, 1280x720)

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Rolled 12, 17 = 29 (2d20)

Floaters are flying packs of bullshit only matched by the bullshit of all the other aliens out there. The air sizzles and burns around you as blasts of plasma sail around you but you are faster than their measly aim. You reach optimum engagement distance of ‘right in their faces’ with controlled speed and precision.

The Floaters, the ones who were barely smart enough to avoid getting caught in the flashbang, attempt to shoot themselves upwards to get out of your range of your scatter laser, but it’s too late as you take two of them down with two reflexive blasts from your scatterlaser. They explode out of the air in a mix of alien blood, debris, and smoke, clattering onto the ground. Their cobbled together armor plating and mechanical parts melted from your laser fire.

Your team pulls out to fire as well, take out several more in quick succession with Peppermint in particular taking one out at the neck. Not a headshot but an extremely good shot. You even see Zhang take a few shots at them, even winging one of them before it’s taken out by Loki. Not bad for a first time using a laser pistol against a Floater of all aliens, However, while your team does make short work of them, they take a few chunks out of your group. A few shots of plasma tagging Rook. Their armor taking the brunt of the plasma but compromising their survival rate.

The last Floater is shot out of the sky in a burst of metal fragments and fleshy chunks and at this rate, your squad is getting steadily worn out. While the triads were wholly ineffective their engagement is adding onto the battle.

Your squad moves up, taking cover close to the exit of the cemetery.

“Road’s wide enough for a landing Dark Sky, what’s it looking like up there?” Rook grunts.

“Aliens are tangled up with the remaining triads just ahead. It’s risky but I can get you boys and girls out of there.” The pilot answers. “Would appreciate a bit more tidying up!”

“This is Central.” Bradford adds as well, interrupting the conversation. “The Commander has given green light for an early evac if need be, the main priority is securing the package.”

Rook pauses and takes stock on the squad and the battle ahead, it sounds like the triads are losing rather soundly, his mind juggles the risks.

>Keep on overwatch, let Rook handle the call.
>Volunteer for street sweeping. You’re still unharmed so far.
>Suggest pulling out. Best to bug out sooner rather than later.
>Other

>>2018249
Damn, don't mind those dice again, I keep forgetting to remove them when I don't need 'em

>>2018249
>Keep on overwatch, let Rook handle the call.

>>2018249
>>Keep on overwatch, let Rook handle the call.

Yeah, let's not loose our concentration when there are rapid-moving floaters around.

>>2018249
>>Keep on overwatch, let Rook handle the call.
Rook is in charge. He knows best.

>>2018249
>>Volunteer for street sweeping. You’re still unharmed so far.

>>2018249
>Suggest pulling out. Best to bug out sooner rather than later.

>>2018249
>>Keep on overwatch, let Rook handle the call.

>>2018249
>Keep on overwatch, let Rook handle the call.
We got Zhang. We got the package. And we're alive. Secure the win already!

>>2018249
>Volunteer for street sweeping. You’re still unharmed so far.

>>2018249
>>Keep on overwatch, let Rook handle the call.

>>2018249
>Volunteer for street sweeping. You’re still unharmed so far.
welp, let's get shot

>>2018256
>>2018258
>>2018259
>>2018272
>>2018275
>>2018284
Overwatch it is, writing!

File: Skyranger Landing.png (2.1 MB, 1645x930)

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You’ll probably get something over handing Zhang with the laser pistol later so you decide to keep your trap shut and focused on your surroundings. Just because the remaining triads are getting what they deserved doesn’t mean there isn’t still a few hiding in the windows or alleyways let alone the aliens themselves. Your team holds for a few tense moments eyes scanning for even the slightest suspicious movement to pepper with laser fire.

“Dark Sky, requesting evac now. We’ll keep the LZ clear for you.” Rook decides. “Take positions on the street, VIP hunker down stay right where you are until it’s clear.”

“Aw dammit, copy that. You guys oh me if any of the X-rays scratch my paint.” Dark Sky grumbles as the pilot begins to lower the Skyranger down onto the street. You and the team fanning out into positions.

Propping yourself across the street behind an open small laundry machine area you keep your scatter laser trained down a winding alleyway, the same one you crossed at the start of the mission.

Just a little longer. As long as you keep your Overwatch clear on the part of the LZ you’ve been designated you and the others are out of here…

>Roll 1d20

Rolled 1 (1d01)

>>2018330

>>2018330
>“Aw dammit, copy that. You guys owe me if any of the X-rays scratch my paint."

Wow, how did I miss that horrid grammar error, I think I'm burning out sooner than I had expected!

Rolled 15 (1d20)

>>2018330


>>2018333
You're an idiot.

Rolled 9 (1d20)

>>2018330

Rolled 11 (1d20)

>>2018330

Rolled 5 (1d20)

>>2018330

Rolled 5 (1d20)

>>2018330

Rolled 19 (1d20)

>>2018330
Drat

>>2018333
Spend that fate point

>>2018364
on a 1d01?

>>2018333
troll

>>2018364
The one we don't have on a 1d01?

>>2018371
>>2018368
Oh. My mistake. I was rused.

But we do have a fate point stored.

>>2018380
I don't think so, But then again I took a big break from the quest after Vegas and we weren't asked if we wanted to use the point to stop Harrita from getting riddled. God that guy was right when he said we shouldn't have used it on the Lab Experiment.

>>2018389
Last thread I believe we got the one.

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You let your gaze go slack somewhat, letting yourself not focus too much in certain parts of the alleyway and back streets, lest you miss movement off to the sides. It takes practice to not let your eyes instinctively wander or focus too much but you keep a constant vigil. The Skyranger begins to touchdown onto ground as the ramp begins to lower.

And then you see it, the slightest change in the initially still street. Your gaze locking onto the suspicious movement as you raise your weapon down the alley way-- and then you see it. You move to fire your weapon but are stopped short as a black globule is launched out at high speeds towards you!

You dive out of the way, hitting the deck just off of the side of the alleyway as the small laundry stall is engulfed in acid. You see three forms dash out from hidden crevices and doorways, their long unnatural limbs and mobility making it easy to identify who they are clearly.

“Thin Men! Trio! Alleyway!” You alert the squad, quickly scrambling up to bring your weapon back up towards the alleyway.

Their ambush opportunity lost, the Thin Men waste no time to reposition, in one swift motion you see one jump upwards onto a roof along the alleyway while while the remaining two begin to open fire from the ground level, attempting to suppress your squad. If those things get a few good shots off at the Skyranger you’re all stranded here. Your squad begins to respond turning their attentions toward the Thin Men.

Already you can see movement just ahead of you, more contacts enroute as well to make things worse.

Dark Sky upon catching wind of the escalating clusterfuck begins to jerk the Skyranger upwards into a hover, leaving the ramp open. The hulking dropship swaying slightly from side to side as Dark Sky works frantically to give your team the time it needs to escape.

“We are leaving!” Rook yells as Zhang and your squad begin to act.

>Get to the Skyranger! No time for fucking around, the sooner you and the others are aboard the better!
>Flash ‘em out! Get those things scattered to buy time for you and the others to board!
>Buy everyone some time with some Running and Gunning! If you’re fast enough you can scatter them or take one out.
>Secure Zhang! If the package is taken out then this was all for nothing.
>Other

>>2018433
>>Flash ‘em out! Get those things scattered to buy time for you and the others to board!

>>2018433
>>Flash ‘em out! Get those things scattered to buy time for you and the others to board!

>>2018433
>Flash ‘em out! Get those things scattered to buy time for you and the others to board!

We need to make sure we're safe before running.

>>2018433
>Secure Zhang! If the package is taken out then this was all for nothing.

>>2018433
>>Flash ‘em out! Get those things scattered to buy time for you and the others to board!

>>2018433
>>Flash ‘em out! Get those things scattered to buy time for you and the others to board!

File: Flashbang!.png (1.11 MB, 1595x742)

1.11 MB PNG

As your squad makes the final dash for escape with Zhang following close behind you know what you need to do.

The one above on the roof takes position and begins to rain fire down at your team, managing to shoot off a few shots of dangerously close plasma before ducking behind as Rook and Loki spray the roof with laser fire. While you can't deal with that Thin Men on the high ground you can still do something with the pair quickly advancing in the alley.

The thought crosses your mind to be a bit more assured in keeping the Thin Men at bay but the last thing you need is being left behind or getting head shot by the things. You begin to run, pulling out a flashbang and ripping the pin off.

"Flash out!" You shout tossing the flashbang down the alleyway with as much oomph and accuracy as you can.

Let's see if their sunglasses can stop a flashbang.

>Roll 1d20

Rolled 9 (1d20)

>>2018466
Solar Flare!

Rolled 3 (1d20)

>>2018466

Rolled 11 (1d20)

>>2018466

>>2018433
>>Secure Zhang! If the package is taken out then this was all for nothing.
Priorities and orders, people

Rolled 18 (1d20)

Rolled 8 (1d20)

>>2018466
rollin for the natural 20

Rolled 13 (1d20)

>>2018466

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A musing comes to mind, rather rudely popping into your thoughts like an unwanted guest. Rachel has a much better throw than you do, that you’d openly admit at any time.

Something about her being a pretty good pitcher in softball in her younger years that’s carried off quite well into her careers in both the FBI and XCOM likely had something to do with it. Not including her shield expertise her throwing arm is quite fierce. You realize why you think this as you note that your own throw with the flashbang right now is rather amatuer at best. It’s nearly a whiff but it’s still enough to get what you’re looking for.

The Thin Men recoil back for a split second or two as they turn away from the blinding flash. In most situations this would mean jack shit as the damn things are fast enough to look back and continue fighting. Thankfully, you’re not staying any longer with them. You dash past them across the alleyway just as they turn their weapons back towards you, rushing over with the others to the safety of the Skyranger before they can retaliate. You hastily clamber up the ramp and into the passenger hold while the others follow suit, exchanging parting words in the form of laser shots to the enemy. Rook of course enters last, making sure everyone is accounted for before boarding himself.

“Go!” Rook bellows, and Dark Sky happily agrees, forcefully yanking the Skyranger upward and jerking it to the sides in an evasive maneuver, it’s one hell of a whiplash but it’s better than being shot by plasma. Dark Sky has yet to raise the ramp instead focusing on escaping as you turn your attention back to the street below.

The Thin Men begin to open fire at your dropship of course, clearly aiming to try and shoot it out of the sky. Down the street you see the remnants of the triads rush forward to open fire at the Skyranger as well, their movements jerky and unnatural. You see scuttling about a pod of Sectoids close to them, the greys having wrestled mental control on the weak minded criminals to use as mere helpless tools.

You feel the Skyranger shudder as it’s impacted by both small arms and a stray plasma shot or two, but Dark Sky is able get the distance and height needed to bug out in the nick of time. You and the others are lurched into your seats or knocked into floor as some of the squad is rather unlucky in not being able to buckle down in the seats. Despite being jostled about however like ragdolls, Dark Sky proves her flying expertise to the squad and flies the Skyranger off successfully.

(Part 1 / 2)

File: Zhang 2.png (699 KB, 901x810)

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“You guys owe me a goddamn new paint job! Fucking Christ!” Dark Sky exhales, relief tinged in her voice. Your squad share the sentiments, it sounds like nobody really minds. You don’t. “This is Skyranger to HQ, package and squad is secure.”

“Roger that, Dark Sky. Talon Squadron, you are green to go.” Bradford chimes in over comms.

Affirmations from another party are had and as the ramp begins to close fully you manage to see and hear a pair of Raven Interceptors streak across the sky. The cemetery and the areas closely around it go up in flames as the area is airstriked with surgical precision. You wince. That’s going to be one hell of a story to cover that up… but at the very least the X-rays and evidence has been dealt with.

You sigh with relief and look to the squad and catch Zhang standing and holding onto a handle. Despite being rocked to and fro by Dark Sky’s evasive maneuvers like the rest of Strike-1 it seems he’s shrugged it off pretty quickly, standing and pausing to look back down at the city skyline and explosive remnants of the AO. The former triad narrows his eyes, seemingly etching the scene below into his memory.

“Funny...” Zhang says to himself calmly.

“What is?” You turn to ask him. You do hate to begrudgingly admit it but the man had held his own down there and you can’t help but respect that to some degree. He turns to you and hands you back your laser pistol before and takes a seat, not answering your question.

Huh. Well, whatever. It’s not like he’ll be recruited into XCOM or anything after this so you don’t really care much. You wouldn’t even know how to react if he was, and god forbid if he gets placed in your squad. You shudder at the thought of working with a criminal, former or not. Good thing that isn’t happening…

>...And with that we’re calling it there! You guys overall made some good calls back there, well done. Things could've gone pear shaped fast. Besides that, I also have another write-up to present to you guys! This time on another perspective close to XCOM. So I hope you guys enjoy that so until next time…

Thanks for playing!

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>>2018552
The first part of several, this write-up follows another perspective in the Alien Invasion underappreciated by humanity even more so than XCOM. Defending Humanity is a tall order after all!

https://pastebin.com/utr10JSf

>>2018552
>It’s not like he’ll be recruited into XCOM or anything after this so you don’t really care much. You wouldn’t even know how to react if he was, and god forbid if he gets placed in your squad. You shudder at the thought of working with a criminal, former or not. Good thing that isn’t happening…
Good run today!

>It’s not like he’ll be recruited into XCOM or anything after this so you don’t really care much. You wouldn’t even know how to react if he was, and god forbid if he gets placed in your squad. You shudder at the thought of working with a criminal, former or not. Good thing that isn’t happening…

Maximus keksimus

>>2018548
>You shudder at the thought of working with a criminal, former or not. Good thing that isn’t happening…

And then Zhang is our new squad buddy after our Commander finds out about it. Complete with Bradford and Rook trying to psychically explode our brains with all their collective summoned up rage after realizing what has happened.

>>2018548
>It’s not like he’ll be recruited into XCOM or anything after this so you don’t really care much.
Thought without a hint of irony.

>>2018552
Thanks for running, Pixel.

>>2018555
Is this what happens when we click "Intelligence scan"?

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>>2018600

>>2037354
New thread is up!