X-COM readies itself. The Codexians are confident in their defenses, and when surplus heavy plasma weapons and ammo are broken out of stores morale soars. X-COM has been ganking UFO after UFO for two months now; time to show these bug-eyed brahs what's good.
This will be the Tunnel O' Death for invaders. Captain Ess Vee readies a crack team of experienced Codexians armed with plasma and lasers with the rocket HWP ready to take the fight to the enemy. Command is already planning how to manage the loot drops from these invaders.
...purple streak, rounds the corner...WTFWTFWTF--
...
...ummm, let's see. This might take a while.
Ess Vee,
Brazi Slaughter,
IDtenT 2,
Azira,
Pelvis Knot 2
...and some rooks are all dead. So is the 500k tank that got used once.
Blown to bits in X-COM's first encounter with an alien tactical nuclear smart missile.
Earth's finest react predictably to the loss of their Captain and other rankers.
Ace Flashear freaks and starts blowing shit up...and maybe an unnamed rookie or two.
The route continues. Weapons are tossed on the ground. Soldiers run away and spray fire at walls.
After a turn or two, things settle down enough for a few soldiers to regain their senses. Rookies Storyfagowicz 3, Pope Amole 3, and Eklek 2 manage to form some sort of half-assed defense while the remaining sergeants and squaddies continue to lose their minds. A few other soldiers are moving up behind them to try and stop whatever is coming. Still no enemies sighted.
These must be Floaters of the pissed-off variety. Storyfagowicz makes the first kill of the defense.
First time spotting one of these. The big carnivorous brute is brought down by plasma fire before anybody finds out what it does (which, if I remember correctly, is run towards and away from soldiers and only occasionally biting one).
While Command initially thought this base layout was very advantageous for defending against attacks, defenders without high explosive weapons have the same problem as the enemy...only one corridor to advance and maneuver in. After the first wave of Floaters is gunned down by Storyfagoicz, Eklek, and an unnamed rook, Pope Amole (already wounded) moves forward to scout.
And is gunned down instantly by a hidden ambusher.
Pope Amole 3. You had 3 mortal wounds and weren't gonna make it anyway.
The Floater advance continues.
Eklek kills a couple of Floaters with accurate plasma shots. Things are looking up and the survivor's morale is improving. Some semblance of order is restored.
"We got this!"
Storyfagowicz is credited as calling out as he pushes forward to keep the Floaters on the defensive. Then another rookie accidentally shoots him in the back during reaction fire. Eklek continues knocking Floaters down with plasma fire until he eats a plasma bolt of his own.
Storyfagowicz 3. Leading from behind is an effective strategy, too!
Eklek 2. You held the line.
Ace drops his explosive AC and grabs a laser rifle so his teammates will actually stand near him now. He arrives and tries to organize the dwindling defenders as the last of the reserve moves up behind him.
Fire teams pick their way through the wreckage, corpses, and liquified bomb victims. They eliminate an enemy or two on their way through the devastated elevator halls. Lightbane is sniped at distance.
Lightbane 3. You're in good company (like, practically everyone.)
GRENAAAAAAAAADE!
Dammit.
Ace Flashear.
Desk Commander.
Drog the 4th.
Rtard keeps his wits as panic once more ensues. He spots a floater with a big ass missile launcher thingie and somehow manages to kill it at long range with only a laser pistol. Then he is plasma blasted back to the LP respawn roster.
Rtard. Your last ditch laser feat probably just saved X-COM.
An unnamed rookie kills the two Floaters that just eliminated half the surviving Codexians. There is almost noone else left that isn't panicked and/or actively dying.
...
A
Pyrrhic victory (
/ˈpɪrɪk/) is a victory with such a devastating cost that it carries the implication that another such victory will ultimately lead to defeat. Someone who wins a "Pyrrhic victory" has been victorious in some way; however, the heavy toll or the detrimental consequences negates any sense of achievement or profit. (from Wikipedia.)
And we aren't done with March 1999.
Lindblum ; Would you care for a beer with your bodycount?