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SilverMK2 wrote:And always wear clean underwear.

Commando. Trust me

Trondheim wrote:Walk with the burning fury of mankind in your hearth, and drench the earth in the blood of our foes!

I would have to give you the shotgun and something like a 9mm. Not the crew serve or heavy weapon. You seem to "eager" to engage.

Remember, if you're wearing your glowbelt nothing can hurt you. XCOM actually has a stash of those they are saving for the most dire emergencies.

This is cool. Wish I had gotten in on this. If you need cannon fodder to be molded sign me up

 Jihadin wrote:

SilverMK2 wrote:And always wear clean underwear.

Commando. Trust me

Trondheim wrote:Walk with the burning fury of mankind in your hearth, and drench the earth in the blood of our foes!

I would have to give you the shotgun and something like a 9mm. Not the crew serve or heavy weapon. You seem to "eager" to engage.

As long as you are a member of Homo Sapisens, and dont come from beyound earth you need not worry. And besides your Skyranger beats any other transport by a century. Even if I am afraid of flying

Guess who has two thumbs and is back from a lovely weekend of not slaying aliens? This guy.

June is heating up and the missions are going to come hot and heavy… stay tuned.

Sgt_Scruffy wrote:
Guess who has two thumbs and is back from a lovely weekend of not slaying aliens? This guy.

June is heating up and the missions are going to come hot and heavy… stay tuned.

YaY! Welcome back glorious and most aweinspiring leader

OPERATION BLEEDING FIST: 12 June, 2015 Buenos Aires, Argentina

Specialist Killionaire quickened his pace as he hurried to check on the encoder. This wasn't supposed to be happening. Someone must have sold him out. The encoder literally could not be traced through electronic means and the transmitter was so advanced most of XCOM's scientists and engineers didn't understand it. No, someone sold them out - either here in Buenos Aires or in the Council. Hopefully it wouldn't matter. He had his information, not that he necessarily knew what it meant. Let the Commander and the brass worry about that.

He made his approach to the parliament from the south on the Combate del Los Pozos. Peole were still crowding the streets in other parts of town, but the Governmental district was quiet on a Friday night. Only a few business men and ambassadors wearing their usual pinstripe suits and bulky coats to ward off the chill of a South American winter... but it was 55 degrees. Killionaire slowed his pace and pulled out his iPhone as if answering a text. Yes, those men were looking for something and trying not to be obvious about it. Several of them were definitely armed - G36s by the look of them. Exalt. Someone at the council was selling XCOM and him down the river. Killionaire turned down the Av Belgrano and headed west - away from the parliament and the encoder. If they knew about the approximate location of the encoder, they would probably pick up his transponder signal when he called for extraction. XCOM was fast, but for the next couple of hours he was on his own.

Think. If he activated the transponder now, it would certainly be traced. They'd know his location and know they'd flushed him out. If he activated his transponder and left it somewhere nearby, it would take them a while to trace the exact location. Either way, they would know that they were close to the encoder and the incriminating information. If he activated his transponder and ran for it, they'd know he was trying to draw them away from the encoder. The only option would be to activate the transponder and stay in the area. He needed to lead them on a chase. Maybe they'd think the encoder was mobile. Either that or the transmitter.

More suits. There were very few people on the streets now as he passed Centro Gallego hospital and turned up Pasco street. He took out his phone - the one that cost more than most cars - and entered the simple phrase "My vigilance is no longer necessary." XCOM loved its little inside puns and despite the fact that no computer on Earth could break this phone's encryption, they still couldn't help themselves when it came to code words. With that, he put the phone in his pocket and hailed a cab. Even as he drove around he noticed quite a few suited men with their phones pressed to their ears and looking about quite intently.... it was going to be a long night.



The parliament building where the encoder is hidden in an administrative wing.


Argentinian Embassy (Council safe house #41), Frankfurt Am Main, Germany
Catrin Schwarz's feet ached. She'd been running errands for the Argentinian ambassador all day and the insufferable pig thought his work was so important. Further unpleasant thoughts clouded her mind as she fought with the jammed copy machine - again. Usually, being secretary for the Argentinian ambassador to Germany was a pretty sedate job, but the ambassador seemed to be unusually interested in this whole alien speculation coming out of Russia. She smiled to herself at the thought of Jose Mendez being the least bit involved with the whole furor.

The phone was ringing. Oh, how she wanted to get these shoes off her feet.
"Mr. Mendez's office, Argentinian embassy. This is Ms. Schwarz speaking. How may I help you?"
"May I speak to the ambassador, please? It is Mr. White." Ah yes, the ever important Mr. White - always to be put straight through. Catrin rolled her eyes.
"Certainly, sir."

Catrin's Spanish wasn't as good as she'd claimed on her resume, so she could be mistaken, but she always swore whenever Mr. White called Jose would talk about relgion or something. The exalted people? Must be a Catholic thing...man, her feet ached.


XCOM HQ: Underneath Gashaka Gumti National Park, Nigeria/Cameroon border.
"Killionaire is calling in, sir. emergency evacuation. His cover is blown." Major Illfaven had the look of a man who thoroughly detested the cloak and dagger nature of Killionaire's mission and was not afraid of showing it.

Bradford was at the screen in a flash. The man's usually spotless uniform was rumpled. Sleeping in his office again. "Okay. Lt. Morton? Would you alert the Skyranger crew. I need them spooled up in 15 minutes - full burn for Buenos Aires. Emergency extraction. I need them dark for this one." Lt. Rousseau, assemble 4th squad in the briefing room and alert the armory.... I w"

"That won't be necessary Lieutenant." The Commander always showed up just as things were heating up. "2nd Platoon will look after its own. Keep 4th squad on call. Things are escalating."
Bradford hated having his carefully formulated QRF duty rosters screwed with, but the Commander had her reasons.


Corporal Canuck and Lance Corporal Bronsy shuffled into the briefing room to find three members of the Legion and CPL Hordini already there. The Commander herself was there as Major Illifan droned on through the in-extremis mission briefing. The men and women listend while strapping on gear and loading up on grenades and medical kit.


"Here is the mission, gentlemen and ladies." Killionaire has been in contact and believes he managed to lure most of the Exalt forces over to the west of the parliament building. Expect your avenues of approach to primarily be from the west and perhaps from the north as well. We'll infiltrate from the east. The Skyranger will insert you right in front of the parliament in full whisper mode, then conduct a false insertion off to the west - closer to where Killionaire has dropped his transponder. He will be in hiding on the north east side of the building and will guide you to the service entrance closest to the encoder. Your mission is to protect that encoder until Exalt is dealt with. They can't pull the information out of it, but they have jammed all communications in the area. The transmitter is set up in a dumpster out behind the parliament. You can not let exalt get a hold of that transmitter. If they reverse-engineer that technology we will never find them. Questions?"

"Sir." It was Hordini. "Collateral Damage?"
The Commander spoke up before Major Illifan. "You will not let Exalt get the transmitter or the encoder... at all costs. Is that understood?"
Hordinin grinned. "Perfectly."

2nd Squad, although depleted, continues to deploy on missions.



Killionaire pulled out his laser pistol and checked the charge. Full... okay. Okay. He had led a squad of those freaks through the parliament and lost them in the basement before circling back and leaving through the western entrance. Now he found himself on the east side of the building with no where else to go. He was finally cornered. Might as well make his stand here... or not. He smiled as he felt a gust of wind at his back. Only one thing made a gust of wind that strong but produced no noise. ..


Killionaire has already been busy defending the encoder from a squad of Exalt who got too close.


Corporal Bromsy ran across the street with the rest of the squad, the SHIV whirring at his side all 6 members of the strike force sprinted for the building. Already he could see movement through the windows. Canuck and Bromsy were breaking off to the right to join Killionaire and set up the perimeter. That left him and the Legion to take the fight to the enemy.... Hordini was just fine with that.


"Full tactical entry, we have to take the building. Weapons free. Legion 9, grenade the entrance on my command...... execute"
--CPL Kamikaze Canuck's audio recording. Mission log Bleeding Fist


Don't get stuck out in the street. Don't get stuck out in the street. It was a mantra running through Hordini's head as he pelted across the wide boulevard. Already Legion 9's grenades were going off in the entrance. The other soldiers were pausing to take shots, but not Hordini. He beat the rest of the squad to the front door and peeked in. Exalt was flipping over heavy oak desks and benches and quickly digging in. They weren't going to let go of their prize easily.

Kamikaze Canuck engages the first wave of Exalt in the opening stages of Bleeding Fist. The ferocity of 2nd platoon's assault would keep Exalt off balance for the majority of the engagement.


Killionaire was good at the cloak and dagger stuff, but he really wished he could strap on some tac armor and pick up a scatter gun. Instead he booted up his laptop as he took cover near the satellite transceiver he had seen the Exalt forces set up. If he could hack their comms, he would definitely slow them down...


2nd Platoon's explosive assault clears out a number of Exalt, but more Exalt take up defensive positions. Hordini flanks an Exalt force.


"There he is, thought Hordini as he peeked over a window. The Exalt operative looked to be in his mid-forties, old for a soldier, but Hordini recognized the gleam in his eye as that of a fanatic. There would be no surrendering from these men and that was fine with him..."

Killionaire successfully hacks the communications relay. Killionaire would continue on to the Exalt's bakcup and tertiary transmitters throughout the mission. During his hacks, he would uncover more intelligence./i]


"I've seen brutal assaults in my life, but 2nd platoon hit that governemnt building like bulldozer. Within 5 minutes the western wing of the entire building was on fire. I could see a stream of figures running in from the west. Most of them were carrying assault rifles but I saw some light anti-tank weapons and machine guns among them. Exalt was coming in force."
--Jihadin

[i]More Exalt join the fray


"Advance! Wedge formation! Contact front!" Hordini and the SHIV advanced abreast through the rotunda as streams of laser fire and the crack of bullets snapped back and forth. More Exalt were coming, but the Legion were keeping their heads down. Already half a dozen dead operatives were sprawled on the floor behind him. He was quickly running out of building as a fire blazed through the senate offices. As he arrived at the western entrance, he observed the parking lot and rear of the building. More Exalt... a lot more. CONTACT!" he bellowed, before ducking back in the building. They were heading for the encoder - they knew where it was now. Hordini keyed his mic. "Kamikaze, you've got incoming.... platoon strength. Estimate 20 or more. They are heading right for the encoder you'd better get ready."

2nd platoon is heavily engaged on the west side of the parliament as Exalt forces stream down the Av Rivadavia


Grenades and explosives slow the tide of Exalt


Killionaire hacks Exalt's secondary communications channel.


They were trying a frontal assault. Unfortunately, they lacked the speed and professionalism of trained soldiers. Hordini thought grimly as he blasted another Exalt operative who hesitated too long in the fatal funnel that was a doorway. Already bodies were piling up around the entrance. ...


The Legion secures the rest of the building and prepares to repel the continued Exalt assaults


Bromsy and Canuck defend the encoder from repeated assaults.


As ammo runs low, Canuck finishes off another assault with her pistol


Lt. Morton looked a little green as the UAV and Skyranger footage streamed in to XCOM HQ. 2nd Platoon had turned the western edge of the parliament into a slaughterhouse. Bradford watched as Bromsy's laser machine gun mowed down full squads of Exalt forces rushing down the Avenues. Whatever was on that encoder, Exalt wanted it badly to be throwing so many foot-soldiers at 2nd Platoon. Canuck had conducted a marvelous breach of the parliament and was now conducting a masterful defense. Bradford walked over to the Lt. "Steady, Lieutenant. These men and women are traitors to their species. They would do the same to us in a heartbeat."



Killionaire turned the corner and almost ran right into an Exalt. He was fiddling with his communication ear bud. Even at 15 feet, Killionaire could hear the high pitched screech his hack had produced. Killionaire almost felt sorry for the man as he shot him and moved on.



The Exalt body count rises as the steady flow of reinforcements starts to dwindle.


The Legion continues to hold the parliament as Hordini and the rest of 2nd Squad advance into the kill zone to mop up.


Canuck, once again out of ammo, uses her pistol to kill yet another Exalt


The last few stragglers in the aborted hunt for Killionaire return to the parliament only to find XCOM waiting for them. Legionnaires engage incoming Exalt forces.


2nd platoon remorselessly slaughters the attackers.


Hordini pounded through the hallway and out the very entrance he had initially breached. As he cleared the steps, he spotted the operative Legion 20 had been unable to hit. He looked young. Even as the thought formed Hordini saw the kid raise his weapon. Hordini didn't hesitate.


Legion 9 surveys the devastation.


BREAKING NEWS: TERRORIST ATTACK ON ARGENTINIAN PARLIAMENT THWARTED BY COUNTER-TERROR FORCES
"Hello America, and welcome back to Fox and Friends Weekend. Breaking news just in overnight as a DARING terrorist attack was thwarted in the act of being carried out. Although few civilians were hurt, the terrorists did manage to detonate several explosive devices within the parliament grounds. No group is yet taking responsibility, but stay tuned as our panel will discuss the implications and whether the attack in Argentina means you're in danger here. Remember, we'll report, you decide. Fox News. Fair and Balanced."

The Capitol, Washington D.C. USA
Senator Duncan Wilson (R-AZ) turned off the TV in disgust. Fething morons. They'd invested so much into the Beunos Aires chapter. Half the ruling coalition of parliament were brothers and soon they were to lead the charge to cut XCOM off from funding. Argentina was to be the first country to back Exalt openly - paving the way for further gains. Now the cell was in ruins and XCOM had who knows what information - surely not his name. That much he knew. XCOM may have a thread though. It would take careful watching and deft manipulation to keep XCOM off the trail from now on. He picked up the phone. "Mindy? Yes, it's me. Can you be a dear and get me Mr. White?" Thanks, Hun."

Amputation would be necessary to stop the bleeding. For now Argentina was lost, but hopefully the damage was mitigated. Now, he had to prepare for the Senate debate on deploying troops to the northern border in the face of Canada's increased... erratic behavior.

Argentinian Embassy, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
Catrin didn't usually come into work on Saturday mornings, but she'd forgotten her cell phone last night. Luckily it wasn't too far out of the way and she could meet Anna just down the street. It was a gorgeous day and the embassy was quiet - most staff were gone and it was too nice to attend to the matters of government. As she entered the grounds she passed a very handsome man who smiled the most perfect white smile at her. She blushed quite fiercely.. then blushed even harder when she realized she was blushing. It was going to be a good day.

Mr. Mendez's car was here - how strange. The ambassador worked Saturdays even less often than she did and never without her. Maybe there was some sort of emergency and she'd forgotten her phone! Oh God, if she got fired... She rushed up the stairs. "Mr. Mendez, I'm so sorry. I left my phone here... Mr. Mendez? The door was ajar and Catrin saw.....

Catrin would not remember what she saw for a very long time. Somethings are better left unseen.










"Ma'am, may I talk to you?" Bradford always seeking answers.
"Yes, of course you may."
"Ma'am, I understand that you make the final choices in regards to all things in this command, but may I ask why you sent 2nd Platoon instead of 4th Squad? 4th Squad has an exemplary combat record and the soldiers are well suited to the work. I'm not complaining. The mission was a complete success and the 2nd Platoon is to be commended. In fact, the promotion paperwork for Killionaire and Bromsy is almost complete."
The Commander regarded Bradford silently for a moment before replying with a question of her own.
"Terry, what do you know of the Council?" The Commander wasn't usually so informal.
"Not much, I'll admit. I gather it's a collection of influential government and non-government individuals who have taken the lead in the response to the alien invasion. A NATO for extra-terrestrials so to speak."
"Why do you think there are no heads of state on the Council? No presidents... no prime ministers or dictators?"
"I... I'm not sure. I always assumed it was for deniability, but I admit I don't know."
"Neither am I. We're operating on the thinnest of margins, Terry. On the one hand, we take almost no orders from the Council. They ply us with money and ask no questions. All they expect in return is for us to defend the world in general and their countries in particular. We are provided with money and political cover for our actions, but not anywhere near the money a unified world response the Council claims to represent would supply. We have advanced human technology more in the last 4 months than in the last 40 years. Genetic engineering. Laser Weapons, Advanced armor and fighters that make F-22s look like bi-planes. We defeat the alien wherever we engage him, yet we are small. Lt Silver commands less than 50 soldiers. The science team is even smaller. Why is the unified world response so... paltry?"
Bradford looked uneasy. Questioning superiors was not his forte. "You think they're hiding something?"
"They're definitely hiding something -besides their faces. We're going to find out. Exalt is just the beginning I feel."
"Ma'am, what does this have to do with 2nd platoon and 4th squad?"
"I need an instrument to find me my answers. I need a force who is willing to do the dirty jobs and not ask questions. Buenos Aires was a perfect resume. 2nd platoon is my instrument." The Commander straightened and assumed a formal tone. "Major Bradford, after careful review of combat and personnel records I am formally disbanding 2nd platoon. You will find recommendations for reassignment for all surviving members of the platoon.As of this point forward, 2nd platoon no longer exists." The Commander raised her eyebrow. "Is that understood, Major?"
"Understood, Ma'am."
"Good. Dismissed."
"Yes, Ma'am." Bradford turned to leave.
"Major?"
"Yes, Ma'am?"
"Tell them they did a great job."
"Yes, Ma'am."

Passes out cold bottles of water in the aircraft for victory celebration for the ride back

I can't wait to go home and play. I'm going to have to restart. And this time make Africa my base and not focus so much on just weapons.
this thread rekindled my love for this game.

 hotsauceman1 wrote:
I can't wait to go home and play. I'm going to have to restart. And this time make Africa my base and not focus so much on just weapons.
this thread rekindled my love for this game.

Glad you are enjoying the thread, and glad I've 'inspired' you to pick the game up again. I do believe it is one of, if not the best game of the last 10 years.

Another kick-ass job, second platoon.

We have to change my nickname though.

 Bromsy wrote:
Another kick-ass job, second platoon.

We have to change my nickname though.

We'll figure one out for you. Stay tuned for the end of June round up as I take an operational pause and write a report on the state of each member of XCOM.

 Bromsy wrote:
Another kick-ass job, second platoon.

We have to change my nickname though.

I here by declare your Frat name.....wait...Animal House influence....K.I.S.S.
Callsign for Bromsy should be "Brewski11"
His combat "buddy" should be a peeled label off a bottle of "PBR" that's a velcro patch on his Battle Rattle

Wait a second...I see a distinct lack of a cereal monster in that last drop!

Or did I read you wrong and just assume I was going along for that ride? I really can't remember now.

Excellent work 2nd platoon. Sad to see your colours mothballed, but maybe one day they will be revived. In the meantime I am sure you will all be welcomed into 1st platoon with appropriate gusto.

Now this was indeed stellar work by any standards! Great jobb 2th! Drinks on me this evening

When I played the new X-com, I didn't have the version with EXALT in it, so this mission was new territory for me. You can send X-Com operatives on spy missions? You can fight human collaborators (which was a feature of X-Com Apocalypse, if I recall)? I may need to pick this version up for myself...

Frankenberry wrote:Wait a second...I see a distinct lack of a cereal monster in that last drop!

Or did I read you wrong and just assume I was going along for that ride? I really can't remember now.

Frankenberry is an official member of 2nd Squad, 1st Platoon. You will drop when Lt. Dead Meat, CPL Docta Deth, the Scruffys (Me and my wife), and CPL Chaos 0xomega drop. 1st Squad, 2nd Platoon is who just dropped.

SilverMK2 wrote:Excellent work 2nd platoon. Sad to see your colours mothballed, but maybe one day they will be revived. In the meantime I am sure you will all be welcomed into 1st platoon with appropriate gusto.

Maybe I wasn't clear. 2nd platoon doesn't *officially* exist. Even by the standards of XCOM, 2nd platoon is now the going to lead the charge in rooting out corruption, and in the Commander's own investigation of the Council. The Council always struck me as not making a whole lot of sense and I want to explore (thematically and through the narrative) exactly what the Council's aims are. Are they this secretive, but ultimately noble organization just trying to defend the planet or do they have ulterior motives? Assuming the aliens can be beaten, what happens to the world's most advanced technology after that? Whichever force or organization controls XCOM will ultimately rule the world. The Commander wants... no needs to make sure that XCOM can not be used to enslave the very people it defends.

Trondheim wrote:Now this was indeed stellar work by any standards! Great jobb 2th! Drinks on me this evening

squidhills wrote:When I played the new X-com, I didn't have the version with EXALT in it, so this mission was new territory for me. You can send X-Com operatives on spy missions? You can fight human collaborators (which was a feature of X-Com Apocalypse, if I recall)? I may need to pick this version up for myself...

Exalt is part of XCOM: Eneny Within, an expansion pack for XCOM: Enemy Unknown. The Exalt are basically a darker version of XCOM. They seeks personal power and wish to jump start the next step of human evolution by using alien genetics to do it. They also always felt quasi-religious to me which is why I try to cloak their actions in a sort of fanaticism that the game doesn't really give them.

Sgt_Scruffy wrote:
They also always felt quasi-religious to me which is why I try to cloak their actions in a sort of fanaticism that the game doesn't really give them.

Er, I mean... you've tried to ARC one before, right?

spoiler for those who have never played, just in case it comes up in narrative.

yeah. I have. I forgot about that!

EXALT isn't so much collaborators as pains in your rear.

"Ma'am, it's the Russians. They are desperate for help. They are saying they will be forced to seek alternate means of survival if we don't help."


More terror missions in Russia. Great.

Panic in Russia!

"CPL Stream Dragon has returned to active duty."

Coincidence? I think not.

I better not see a bare chested almost bald guy riding a horse into action as we approach a possible hot LZ.

"Tail Clear"
"Clear Below"

Putin has always been a collaborator.

Hmm that would explain a lot of things, better load for bear then

 Trondheim wrote:
Hmm that would explain a lot of things, better load for bear then

Loaded for the great Russian Bear

 SilverMK2 wrote:

 Trondheim wrote:
Hmm that would explain a lot of things, better load for bear then

Loaded for the great Russian Bear

Well beside the fact that evil overlord Putin is not very great well yes. We shall see I suppose

Expect the Terror Attack up later tonight. I'm going to power through June here then take a pause to collect my thoughts on how I want XCOM to develop thematically.

After I figure it out, I'll post a psych profile and general records review of each Dakka Corps member and squad. This will be the framework for the narrative going forward as I feel like I'm sort of drifting here and just bouncing from one thing to the next without really developing it.

In the meantime, I will try to take whatever fluff you've written for your character into account in developing their individual profiles. Bullockist has already provided some good insights into his character and some of the other like Chaos, Frankenberry, and Galia are promising. If you want to push a certain narrative, feel free to PM me.

From now on the missions are going to be a little less play by play and more narrative like the last mission. I'll be less concerned with reporting how many HP that laser blast took off the Muton and more concerned with setting the scene.

Love the write-ups. I think the Exalt storyline in this thread is much more interesting than the game actually! That's why some people IRL have asked for an Exalt campaign.

Glad 2nd Platoon could slaughter some traitors. Sad to see 2nd Platoon disbanded but the Commander seem to be saying we "officially" don't exist anymore....does that mean we...unofficially exist in some way? Has 2nd become the Black Ops team of the already Black ops Xcom?


Automatically Appended Next Post:

Righteousrob wrote:
This is cool. Wish I had gotten in on this. If you need cannon fodder to be molded sign me up

We always need more Cannon fodder!