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OPERATION SOARING FATHER: 25 June 2015, 19 kilometers northwest of Mwanza, Democratic Republic of Congo (Nigerian Theater of Operations)

The Commander slowly got out of bed. She could feel the concern forming in Central. Aliens. More worryingly still, she could feel the fatigue overpowering the concern as over-worked staff officers wearily called up tracking data and alerted support staff. Another landing in Africa - what were they doing? As she shuffled to the head,she activated the comm. "Bradford, please." The young corporal who responded, startled that his charge was up at this hour fumbled a "yes, ma'am." and put her through. Not even the mental image she saw of the young man scrambling to attention at a comm message could shake her from the utter fatigue. Bradford sounded better (and was thinking better, she was relieved to find) than any of them. Two days of enforced bed rest had done him wonders.



"Yes, Ma'am. I was going to let you sleep." Bradford no longer was surprised that the commander could anticipate trouble.
"What do we have, Colonel?"
"Looks like a landed UFO in the Congo. Purpose unknown."
"What class? Please not another Terror ship."
"Uh... Scout, Ma'am"
"Good. I don't think we're in shape for another pitched battle. Send all of the first squad that's able to go. OPCON SHIVs as necessary.
"Yes, Ma'am. Uh, we're struggling to fill out the squad."
"I know. Send them short-handed."
"... Yes, Ma'am."
"Bradford."
"Ma'am?"
"Cut the staff to minimum levels. If they aren't absolutely essential, send them to bed."
"Yes, Ma'am."

Lieutenant Silver Mk2 strode down the silent barrack's wing. Gently, she woke Esubius Walrus, Cthulu Spy, and Eddie Azrael. Legion 7 was already at the skyranger. The barracks were a sad place now. Empty bunks were everywhere as half of the platoon languished in sick bay. The other half of the beds were filled with sleeping troopers -many of them too weary to change out of their duty uniforms. "The aliens will just wear us out and kill us once the last of us drops from exhaustion." Silver had always had a slightly pessimistic outlook - she liked to think it had kept her squad in fighting shape. Even as she stopped at The Vulture's bunk a whisper greeted her.
"Mission, LT?"
"Yes. Vulture." She still hadn't managed to catch the sniper unaware.
"Be ready in 5." The small figure swung out of her bunk already dressed in a fresh set of combat fatigues.
Cthulu Spy slept like the dead. Silver has long since resorted to simply kicking the gunner in the leg to stir the hard-sleeping French Woman. The commotion woke Eddie across the way as Cthulu cursed out the LT in English and French.
"Wake up, we've got company."
"Feth you. I'll be ready in 5."
Silver walked back towards the hangar. She understood why the Commander was allowing the QRF to sleep once readiness posture level 1 was assumed, but she knew it was dangerous. The QRF was also the primary defense force for XCOM HQ. If Silver was a betting woman, she'd bet a paycheck that the aliens were looking for them - for XCOM. It was only a matter of time...

First squad, numbering only 5 + 1 SHIV, before Soaring Father


"What do we know so far about all our alien UFO assaults? The question was retorical, but LT. Morton answered anyway. "Ma'am, we know that as soon as the outsider is engaged, the other aliens will quickly collapse back to the UFO and attack our team!"
"Indeed," The Commander suppressed a smile, "What would that suggest to you, Lt. Morton?"
"Either the Outsider has a psychic connection to the other aliens and calls for reinforcements as soon as he is engaged..."
"Or?" The Commander prodded.
"Or the other aliens can't fly the ship without the outsider?"
"Correct. Observe how Lt. Silver and her squad will drop right on top of the UFO in order to take out the Outsider and pin the aliens in place. Also, Captain Wu, please inform the Lieutenant I want that Outsider alive."
"Yes, Sir."

The Vulture draws first blood as the outsider is wounded


"Feth, Walrus, the Commander wants it alive. Shoot to wound. I know what your'e going to say. I know. Just do it"
-Lt. Silver

Chtulu Spy flashbangs the Outsider.


"What's that?" Eddie commed in as Leigon 7, Silver and the SHIV closed on the blinded Outsider. The rhythmic sound of alien servos could barely be heard over the snap of plasma fire and hiss of the returning laser blasts. Mechtoids. Feth.
"Many people think that 1st squad has had an easy war because they get easy assignments - the loss of legion 19 not-withstanding." The Commander sometimes rambled when she was tired. "The fact of the matter is, they make their jobs look easy. The staff was looking at the commnader like she'd lost her mind. 1st squad was heavily engaged and a mechtoid was closing. Sensing their unease, the Commander smiled. "Watch and learn." She turned back to the screen.

The alien outsider attempts to blindly shoot Legion 7


"GO, GO, GO!" Silver and Legion bolted around the corner as the outsider's plasma blasts missed completely. A laser blast singed the outsider again as Walrus did her best to keep the crystalline alien alive. The arc thrower connected and yet the Outsider still stood.


Silver decides that 48% is too long odds to attempt another capture


"Here's why Silver is considered the most successful squad leader in XCOM." The Commander was leaning over the screen showing the UAV screen as Wu, Morton, and the rest looked on. "She has another arc thrower charge, but she knows she's also the only one with a decent shot at the taking out the outsider. She'll ignore my order to take the outsider alive to ensure her squad survives the encounter unscathed. She has the strategic insight to know that XCOM soldiers are in short supply." The Commander smiled. "She does not know that Cthulu Spy is about to make a hell of a shot."


The floaters attempt an ambush. Of course, they expose themselves to The Vulture.


"Sir, if SHIVS are so good, why don't we use them more often?" Captain Wu had a heavy background in armored warfare and had quickly co-opted the SHIVS for perimeter patrol.
"Because Captain, our greatest asset is the human mind. Our soldier's ability to learn and pass down the knowledge of how to beat our evolutionarily superior adversaries will prove to be our one true weapon in this war. Make no mistake, the XCOM soldier is our most technologically advanced, most valuable, and least replaceable weapon in this war. The SHIV is static - only as good as we can make it. Our operatives improve with every mission - and may yet improve the human race itself."
A SHIV takes down a floater

LT. SIlver Mk2 downs another floater


The mechtoid stomped into view, only to find 1st squad waiting for it. The Floaters were flaming wrecks as 1st squad stood their ground. Where a wounded and exhausted third squad had struggled, and a young and inexperienced 2nd platoon had quickly, but messily prevailed; 1st squad proved once again that they had earned the appellation "Glory Squad."



Chtulu Spy finishes off the alien tank as it tries vainly to gain a firing solution on the entrenched first squad.


The view as Esubius Walrus takes down the sectoid that had accompanied the mechtoid.


The Commander turned to Bradord. "Take over, Colonel. I'm going back to bed."
"Ma'am, the operation isn't over yet."
"Yes it is, the aliens just don't know it yet."





Eddie Azrael scores the last kill as the aliens fruitlessly charge 1st squad


The SHIV takes minor damage, but 1st squad emerges from Soaring Father unscathed.


Eddie Azrael becomes adept as firing his rockets on the move.


another significant haul of alien aritfacts has the research division swimming in advanced tech.

Excellent work 1st squad. A shame we could not take a few more legion troops along for the experience they sorely need, but even the legion must be stretched thin these days. Maybe next time we have a slightly wounded capture target one of the capture team can pistol whip it a bit before the other arc throws it?

"Good work all round, Glory; now catch some sleep on the flight home. I'll make a start on theafter action paperwork!." -Silver as the skyranger dusts off for home base

Docta watched the live feed link from her bunkroom, one of the engineers had patched in a portable TV unit to the command channel. The Commander would give her a right telling off if they knew. Glory squad was doing the typical thing, second got all the guts and blood and none of the thanks. she scowled at herself at that thought, slightly ashamed.

"I'll serve them something a bit more exotic...some curries." She hurried off to the kitchen as the ETA of the skyranger hit the top, Spices needed to be ground and toasted, potatoes cut and the meat she had purloined from last recreation break was going to be tasty.

Trondheim lay with his gloved hands gripping his weapon, as he took aim and riddeld the target downrange in a hail of shots. Yet again command has used the meager excuse of 4th being "understrentg" and had sent its pet squad to do he job he knew his own fire team could have done.
"Give me additional Legion and a shiv, and I will drown the world in alien blood" he mutterd as he reloaded and took aim.
But as he was about to let another salvo rip appart his target he paused.
Getting up he walked over to the range controls and sent the paper target as far down range as he could .
He needed to rise above petty feelings of ambition and wishes for setteling personal scores. It was not what she would have wished to see in him, and nor did it do his fellow men at arms any honour either.
As he setteled down and peerd down the scope of his weapon a single tear found its way down his chin as he thougth of the one he had lost, so long ago.

Talizvar turned away from the screen shaking his head.
That is the risk of trying a capture, always have the take-down backup plan.

Glad 1st squad could hear the big stomper: it makes such a difference dealing with those mechtoids when they don't wander into the middle of a firefight.
Good cover and a stand-off distance appears to be the way to go as well, at least this guy was a bit light on support for shielding (I hate it when they do that).

Need a little more shut-eye then back to the obstacle course though my shooting has been sucking lately, so range time as wel.... zzz.

The smell of curry wafted through the air of the armoury as Silver and the rest of first squad struggled out of their gear. Silver smilled as a ragged cheer went up as Docta wheeled through streaming bowls of curry, rice and bread. First squad crowded around, alternatively grabbing mouthfulls of curry, slapping docta on the back, calling out their thanks to the master chef, and trying to either hold on or get rid of their half removed gear and clothing.

Silver laughes at the sight and circled the melee, snagging some bread and heaping it with curry and rice before making way for her squad.

Docta stood back as first squad got down to the serious business of consuming curry and watched as Lt Silver approached. Silver smiled and reached out a hand to clasp Doctas shoulder, smiling in a lopsided but sincere grin. "Thanks Docta - it means a lot to know that you'll be here to look after us when we get back! I'd offer to cook you something but my skills in the kitchen are sadly lacking... though the prospect of facing my food when you get back from a fight might make the alien threat seem like nothing!"

Eddie grinned at the sight of the steaming bowls - Lamb Rogan Josh - definitely coming back for seconds there! The cute flight tech had smiled warmly at him when he winked at her after disembarking from the skyranger, and to top it off was the warm glow of satisfaction at the way his study of the enemy 'battle droid' had paid off with a direct hit from his rocket strike....Yup, the days just didn't get any better...

"Shoot to wound" they'd said. "We know it's silly, just do it" they'd said.

So he had. A beautiful shot, punched clean through the Outsider and left sparks jumping from a hole the size of his fist in what looked like the weird alien's torso.

"Stun failed!" Silver's voice carried over the comms. What followed was a sound that cannot be accurately described, but similar to the sound of a thousand nails against blackboards followed by the thump of a car door, only magnified ten or twenty times.

Even as he saw the shards that used to be the Outsider scatter across the battlefield, Walrus once again heard Silver's voice carry over the comms: "Outsider down".

Frustrated, Walrus systemmatically set about annihilating anything that moved in his line of sight.

___

By the time the mission was completed, and the Skyranger was headed home, Walrus's mood had improved significantly. He finally had a title for that book he'd always wanted to write. Upon consulting his squadmates to a subtitle, he settled on "Shoot to Wound: The dumbest orders of all time".

*throws a sling set unto to the aircraft figuring something BIG might get captured soon*

Interlude: Prelude to Devil's Hero

What do you mean, 'he's in Canada'?" Bradford hissed over the comm to Dr. Vahlen. "His emergency extraction transponder has been activated in Edmonton. That's all I said. We do not know that he himself is there - just his transponder." "Impossible, the controls to it I'll grant you, but the transponder is grafted under his skin.... oh." Bradfrod finally understood the full gruesome implication of Vahlen's theory. Dr. Vahlen continued. "It is too dangerous to send anyone right now. XCOM is fragile and this could be a trap. They will have very little support. I recommend that we leave the operative to his own devices. It was his choice to cross the border..."
"We're not leaving anyone out there to fend for themselves." The Commander's tone brooked no argument.
"Well, in that case we'll have to strip down the skyranger again. Edmonton is a long way, and flying that far behind enemy lines will require maximum maneuverability. The pilot's are telling me we can only take 4 soldiers."
Now it was Bradford's turn to balk. "4 soldiers? That's not enough. Every time we've gone against Exalt we've faced cells of 15-20 men. Being outnumbered 5-1 isn't my idea of an extraction."
"Nevertheless, it's what we'll have to do."[/i]

"Lt. Trondehim. You and three of your men are embarking on a recon assignment. You will infiltrate the Canadian defense grd in the vicinity of Edmonton, Canada and make contact with what we believe to be a Canadian resistance movement centered out of the midwest. You will extract this individual and return him to our representatives in Philadelphia. Expect resistance, although I can not say how strong it will be. Your primary objective is the extraction, not killing enemies. Questions?" Even the Commander looked somewhat chagrined at feeding her men a bunch of crap. " You expect me to believe any of this?" Trondheim put it bluntly.

Bradford looked at the Commander for confirmation before continuing. "No, I don't expect you to believe it., but I need you to sell it. The people we usually have do this are otherwise engaged. Your squad - through circumstance or careful investigation, has proven to be trustworthy. The same can not be said for everyone at XCOM. You will extract the high value individual, and get him back to Philadelphia. Is that understood?"

"Yes, sir."

"Good. I want you to keep silent about this until you are on the ground. Don't discuss it with your squad until you are OFF the skyranger in Canada."

" No one will hear a word about it Commander,we will be likle the ghosts of Hell herself." Lt Trondheim said to the commander, whom he sometimes had mixed feelings for.
But he had always respected the woman whom gave him orders, and he would rather die than to let her down, and beside being considerd this trustworhy made any man deemned trustworthy considerd himself honoured to be so.
"The operative will be in safe hands miss!" he said and took his leave of the meeting with a sharp salute.
--------------------

The Lt enterd the baracks and let his eyes wander across the men and women there, for all he knew there was one or more traitors lurking here, but he could not worry about that now. Instead he focused on what the Commander had given him instrcutions about, so therefor he did not call out loud to his choosen men.
Those would be Motyak, Malfred and Demented Wombat, he would bring his most trusted and seasoned troopers to this mess.

Oh crap, we're going to Edmonton. It was bad enough before the alien invasion!

 Trondheim wrote:
" No one will hear a word about it Commander,we will be likle the ghosts of Hell herself."

Those would be Motyak, Malfred and Demented Wombat, he would bring his most trusted and seasoned troopers to this mess.

"But...but...boom! Rockets, baby. I mean sir. Please?"

 malfred wrote:

 Trondheim wrote:
" No one will hear a word about it Commander,we will be likle the ghosts of Hell herself."

Those would be Motyak, Malfred and Demented Wombat, he would bring his most trusted and seasoned troopers to this mess.

"But...but...boom! Rockets, baby. I mean sir. Please?"

Well I never said anything bout leaving witnesses to our litle field day did I

Well, I think it's 2nd platoon going to Canada. Ironically the real KamaikazeCanuck is leaving the real Canada for a week and won't have internet. Hopefully I'll still be alive when I get back. Good luck out there all virtual Alien Hunters!

 KamikazeCanuck wrote:
Well, I think it's 2nd platoon going to Canada. Ironically the real KamaikazeCanuck is leaving the real Canada for a week and won't have internet. Hopefully I'll still be alive when I get back. Good luck out there all virtual Alien Hunters!

Second platoon has other concerns right now... 4th squad is being asked to fill in. Killionaire will be there though as he's our secret agent man.

Sgt_Scruffy wrote:

Second platoon has other concerns right now...

That doesn't sound ominous at all...

So when will we see this AAR? Curious to see how it all went. And why I get a strange feeling tingeling in me

 Trondheim wrote:
So when will we see this AAR? Curious to see how it all went. And why I get a strange feeling tingeling in me

I need to finish up some homework, then I will start working on the AAR. I have started twice already, but the narrative didn't make much sense. Expect it by the end of the weekend at the latest.

Bring me back a Nail Yakupov autographed Oilers jersey. I'll add it to my collection of famous Russians. I must preserve everything I can of my peoples history and culture.

Sgt_Scruffy wrote:

 Trondheim wrote:
So when will we see this AAR? Curious to see how it all went. And why I get a strange feeling tingeling in me

I need to finish up some homework, then I will start working on the AAR. I have started twice already, but the narrative didn't make much sense. Expect it by the end of the weekend at the latest.

looking forwards to it, and do take your time. no need to rush it

Indeed--these are great to read, but don't rush yourself on our account.

Operation Devil's Hero. 27 June, 2015 Edmonton, Canada

When I think of the betrayal of humanity that Exalt represents, I get angry. When I consider the path XCOM now treads, I am scared. Will XCOM become Exalt in time? Will they lay down their awesome power after the hard fought victory is won? The Commander is ambitious and relentless in her prosecution of the alien campaign. Our agents suspect that she is now operating outside her purview and has started hunting down Exalt cells. The Argentinians are furious and have already threatened to leave the Council, but she cut the cancer out and ultimately Kirchner will calm down. Does she help us or is she removing the only real opposition? I don't know and it keeps me up at night.
~Manohar Parikar, Personal Journal.

Killionaire finished his sandwich and walked out of the greasy diner and into the warm Edmonton night. By now, he barely noticed the scent of fertilizer drifting into the city from the plains. Instead his attention was focused on a well dressed man who appeared to be following him. The Canadian government had surrendered to the aliens, and as a result, Exalt was overtly operating. They brazenly kidnapped people for their experiments and seemed to have at least some sort of non-aggression pact with the aliens. Exalt had been particularly active in destroying the nascent Canadian resistance movement which had initially brought Killionaire to Edmonton.

Now he was on the run. He'd crossed the Canadian border 6 days ago near Vancouver and worked his way east as he met with Canadian partisans who insisted something sinister was happening up North. They'd never gotten there though. Exalt had hounded them every step of the way and now Killionaire's contacts were dead and he was on the run. Everywhere he went, he ran into Exalt waiting for him. Someone is selling us down the river. He reached into his pocket and activated the emergency transponder and hurried off into the night even as he noted a second tail get up from a park bench and begin to follow him.



Orlanth, Wombat, and Motyak fast rope into enemy territory as dawn breaks and Killionaire is on the verge of being cornered.


"I think in those days, we were still unsure just of what XCOM was capable. Everyone knew they took the best special operators of all the world's best militaries, but we assumed they were simply a better SAS or Delta Force. Of course, now we know we were wrong on that front. More importantly, the Canadian experience with Exalt gave us a good idea of what Exalt could do on the tactical level. Make no mistake, Exalt's aggressive genetic engineering projects made Exalt operatives quite dangerous. What they lacked in tactical experience they made up for in superior DNA."
~Manohar Parikar, Council Member (Indian Defense Minister)

Killionaire takes cover in a book store as Exalt closes in


Just as Killionaire is cornered, the small strike force engages Exalt on their flank


"When the general Council finally found out about the wider details of the Exalt missions late in the war, we were scared. XCOM had outgrown us and worse yet, acted behind our back. As Devil's Hero was one of the first operations of which we got any solid intel on, we were shocked at the efficacy of XCOM tactics. Carrying out offensive operations against a force that outnumbered you 5-1 and is expecting a fight is generally seen as suicide. There were calls to relieve the Commander once we found out, but there was a very real fear that direct confrontation with XCOM would simply turn them on us. Already we'd seen several Council representatives mysteriously disappear. We thought Exalt was responsible, but now we had our doubts..."
~Joachim Mueller, German Intelligence Attache to the Council

4th Squad engages in close combat with two squads of Exalt. Demented Wombat deploys his grenades dangerously close to friendlies


All attention is diverted from Killionaire as 4th squad's sudden assault decimates the Exalt force


"It's known as the trashcan fight among the analysts that have seen the footage. It's probably one of the most analyzed pieces of footage we have once we realized that we really didn't know what was happening under that national park out in Nigeria. We were interested because it indicated what XCOM would and could do against Council militaries. A single soldier plows through squads of enemy without sustaining a scratch. When viewed at full speed it takes a few seconds, but when you slow it down - the decision making process is uncanny."
~Frank Verlander, CIA analyst and Council Attache

Motyak shoots an operative even as he engages in close combat with multiple Exalt


The jamming of Exalt comms slows the enemy down and Motyak will suffer no injury despite being surrounded


More danger close grenades as Wombat clears the way for Motyak


Motyak and Killionaire clear the roof overlooking the last Exalt communication's relay.


"I swear, they slow down after they hit that last transponder and start hunting. There's a slow deliberate way they ensure they corner every last Exalt agent they find as you watch the footage. It's.... well, I didn't sleep very well after I saw it."
~Frank Verlander

Motyak continues his rampage


Trondheim finishes off another Exalt operative as Killionaire hacks the last Exalt comm relay.


Demented Wombat frags two more Exalt


Killionaire and Motyak prepare to extract. Note the 6 dead Exalt visible. Canadian local would strip them of weapons in the minutes before further Exalt forces arrived


To: Akio Toyoda
Subject: Our deepest fears

Akio, old friend;

I think it has happened. XCOM has slipped its bonds and we are no longer in control. The Commander has her own private force now, and Fulbright has disappeared. I think she did it. Everyone suspects Fulbright was in talks with Exalt, and she's gone. Putting the Commander in charge was a mistake and I should have listened. It has become clear to me that we are now mere spectators in the three-way chess game being played for our planet. Let's hope the queen doesn't turn on her now superfluous king.

Respectfully,
Jacob Zuma
~ Email intercepted by XCOM electronic drag net

Orlanth and Trondheim hunt down straggling Exalt forces


Motyak confronts another squad of Exalt.


Killionaire kills another Exalt as he nonchalantly extracts via Skyranger


Motyak blows away the last Exalt member of the platoon sent to apprehend Killionaire


"I think at the end of the day, the scariest thing isn't that they defeated a force 5 times their number. It isn't even that they crossed the most heavily fortified border in the planet's history to root out an organization that they felt had betrayed them and they did it while in alien occupied territory. No, it's the fact that they took their time to make sure they killed every one of those mother#*$^@#s and only then did they extract. I don't think it was intended as a message, but I think the message was received none the less. I'd like to note that NSA asserts to this day that the Canadian resistance didn't really get off the ground until XCOM hit Edmonton. Three weeks later we see reports of collaborationist military units being ambushed with Exalt weaponry."
~Frank Verlander



4th Squad suffers no injuries


Captured intel eliminates the UK from the list of possible Exalt locatons


To: Bradford, Terry H. LTC, XCOM G-3.
From: [redacted]
Subject: Through a glass, darkly

Terry,

Tell 4th squad they did well. Also make sure they don't talk. Ms. Fulbright has proven most cooperative and we have much to discuss with Dr. Vahlen. I'm quite sure we can no longer afford not to go ahead with the New Man project as Dr. Vahlen proposes. I only need Mr. Nagy's cooperation and we can proceed. See that Kamikaze gets it.

Terry, are we doing the right thing?

Respectfully,
C.

Next time, 2nd Squad secures additional expertise for the New Man Project.

Trondheim stood in the corps strewn street and looked around him as they where about to exfil from Edmonton. It felt good to have shed blood and lots of it, and there was something deeply satisfying with having slain these vile traitors to mankind.
A sinister smile formed on his lips as he stepped on the Skyranger and watched the ligths of the city fade below them as they headed for home.
------

Now that was a good AAR! Really loving these cloack and dagger missions, gives it all a real sense of reality(to a certain degree)

I know I don't comment much, but...... Damm. 4th did a great job on those scum.

Scruffy....WTH is in those Rip Its?!?!

 Jihadin wrote:
Scruffy....WTH is in those Rip Its?!?!

Life man. Rip Its are life. Along with Miami cigarettes (a Northern Iraq special). 5 dollars for 10 packs.

Excellent work with those traitors in Exalt 4th!

Thanks guys. I've got drill this weekend so the updates will be sparse. Two more missions left in June (It's been an insanely busy month). After that, we'll get into a round up of XCOM as it currently stand before diving into July.

No worries, I am sure we all can understand that sometimes life gets in the way of vioently killing aliens and Exalt. Looking forwards to the next one