Multiple UFOs down, many more in the skies. The interceptors return to refuel. The small scout crash site is targetted by an airstrike, while the medium gets a ground team.
First contact is a drone. The rookies are sent to deal with it. If it's alone, they get valuable experience at low risk. If it isn't, then no veterans will die in the ambush.
The drone is content to kill a raghead civvie. Mothermachinae claims the killing shot.
The main force of aliens are green, terminator-like robots. Ashery claims the first kill of this new enemy of the Empire.
More of them advance through the treeline. They appear to be utterly fearless. Flashbangs have no effect on them, nor stun gas or suppressive fire.
High explosive rockets, however, seem to work adequately.
The rookies continue skeet shooting while the veteran Kool Krew focuses on the walking robots. Stabby claims a kill.
While Undead phoenix tries to draw the fire of one of the androns. The automatic fire it's been shooting down the road has kept Angelo and Ashery from getting decent return fire.
The bait works—at the cost of Phoenix'es shield
Angelo is swift to punish the alien for switching targets!
The outside sweep is concluded. The Krew reload their weapons and prepare to storm the UFO.
Azira opens the game with one of our new Alenium rockets. It damages an andron, but does not destroy it. The cover inside the ship is also cleared away.
Tindrli hunkers down behind his shield while we wait for the Androns to walk into our line of fire.
At which point CIS Sis does the legacy of LundB proud.
As we move further in, Tindrli comes under fire. His shield melts and he sustains minor injuries.
But Angelo finished off the xeno before it can fire a secodn shot.
The remaining aliens are barricaded in the rear of the UFO. A reaction-fire killing zone is set up.
And the remainder of the aliens fall to CIS Sis and Angelo.
A textbook operation. Stabby earns a medal for 5 total kills.
Meanwhile, on the Geoscape, the Aliens have started an aerial terror site.
AND a ground terror site at the same time.
There's no time to waste if we want to make it to the terror site. The dropship is redirected from its return to base to bring the crew to northern Russia instead.
Meanwhile, 2 Foxtrots and a Condor are scrambled to handle the aerial terror site.
The alien fighters break off to intercept us while the bomber backs off. Foxtrot 2 hits the afterburner and goes straight for the bomber, while foxtrot 1 tries to lure the fighters into chasing it. This should allow the condor to get close enough to shred them.
Foxtrot 2 manages to get its missiles off, but does not destroy the bomber.. The gambit worked, and the fighters are destroyed with only minor damage sustained by the foxtrot. The remaining aircraft now turn their attention on the bomber.
The second foxtrot is barely in range for a missile lock. Unfortunately, the bomber seems to be turning towards it
And it's mutual destruction! Aerial terror site is cleared. But the lack of the foxtrot may become a serious problem during the next wave of UFOs.
Our scientists finish their initial analysis while the ground team is still en route to the terror site
The terror site is reached at midnight. I briefly considered lingering in the area until dawn, but it was unlikely the terror site would've remained for that long.
More terminators—the eggheads in the lab refer to them as Androns—are lurking right outside the dropship.
The first soaks up a ridiculous amount of fire before Azira finishes it off with a rocket.
The team tries to spread out, but there is precious little room to maneuver. More terminators join the firefight at a steady pace.
During the alien turn, shots come in from the left side. Tindrli is taken out.
RIP
tindrli
CIS Sis tries a flanking maneuver, but runs into even more terminators.
As long as the saucers are peppering us with suppressive fire, we can't move anywhere. And we're all in a really bad spot. Angelo tries to take it out, but fails.
He moves aside, and Ashery steps up to finish the job.
More terminators pour in. The first is cut down by reaction fire.
But a second arrives from behind the coal carriage and shoots Angelo in the face.
RIP
Angelo85. Noodnight, sweet prince.
The andron that murdered Angelo turns on Ashery next, shooting him in the gut.
Stabby avenges Angelo. Our situation here is untenable. A general retreat is ordered.
Ashery lays down covering fire while people are pulled back.
...alongside Mothermachinae, who claims a terminator.
CIS Sis races towards Ashery with a medkit to staunch the bleeding.
Azira spots a flanking attempt. A rocket damages the terminator, but is not enough to stop it.
Since there's still a chance he'll make his saving throw, Undead Phoenix reclaims the body of Angelo from where he fell. there aren't sufficient time units to reclaim his weapon as well.
The aliens are relentless. A terminator sniper gets a shot in on ashery, who slumps to the ground before CIS Sis can administer healing.
Rip
Ashery. Your shots mainly hit your allies and civilians.
CIS Sis storms out of the dropship again to cover Aziras retreat. As the damaged andron closes in for the coup de grace, she fires a salvo over Aziras shoulder and saves him.
But the Terminators have locke don to Undead Phoenix. Suppressive fire keeps her from retreating into the dropship with Angelos body.
Mothermachinae and Stabby take down another Terminator. But their clips are running low. Time to blow this joint.
CIS and Azira GIT TO DA CHOPPA
But Undead Pnoenix is cut down by reaction fire in front of the side door.
RIP
Undead Phoenix. You were the bravest of shieldmaidens.
No more civilian screams are heard during the alien turn. All the terminators must be moving toward us.
Mothermachinaes courage fails her
Stabby GITS TO DA CHOPPA
But there is nothing we cna do for Mothermachinae.
RIP
MotherMachinae. You died a heroes deff.
DA Choppa lifts off, and the ships of the holy Ordos prepare the warheads for Exterminatus.
Funds that were going towards ourt next interceptor are instead diverted to replace the equipment we lost in the Siberian Apocalypse.
Our scientists finish Alenium research, which will lead to stronger armour. Who knows how many might have lived if we had but had better protection with us?
The situation remains dire as November comes to a close.
Calling new recruits:
ERYFKRAD,
Storyfag,
Scrooge,
eklektyk,
Comte