November starts with another scout chase. So far, we've been on the revcieving end of the war in the skies. hopefully that will change soon.
We use the cash influx to build another Foxtrot. Eventually, we're going ot want 6 of these, stationed 2 on each base. But until the funding nations stop being so butthurt about my complete and utter incompetence, we'll have to make do.
The first "very small" UFO is detected. These buggers don't leave a crash site when shot down. But they do attack your aircraft and can be quite bothersome. sending DA CHOPPA out without an escort when fighters are in the air is begging for suicide.
We finally manage to catch up to a medium scout. But it's way, way over the water. Rather than risk going bingo fuel, I order it shot down instead of tailed.
Another scout lands. I decide to risk it and send out DA CHOPPA, escorted by the foxtrot. the alien fighter is circling around Mozambique, shooting down civvie aircraft.
But as soon as DA CHOPPA is airborne, it homes in on us. If DA CHOPPA is shot down, all crew on board is killed. I did NOT feel good about this.
Fortunately, the RNG gods were on our side.
LundB took the impending doom with stoic calm.
The landed ufo was another sibilian small scout. Nothing terribly exciting happened during the ground cleanup.
But Absalom did join the distinguished ranks of Kodexians who have managed to slay 5 of the foul Xenos.
These little buggers are going to be our nemesis soon enough. They'll start escorting the juicy transport UFOs, makign air combart more hazardous.
Since we're not completely led dry of money yet, the listening posts start upgrading. A radar is added to the Kwan and Azn bases, as well as a pair of hangars in Asia. We'll start transferring aircraft over in December.
The remaining funds are spent on laser weaponry. We've been lucky with the aliens so far, but we'll need MORE DAKKA pretty soon.
Our first Medium-sized UFO is detected! It has no escorts, so we should be able to bring it down safely.
Of course, the fucker leads us on a merry chase. when we finally catch up to it over water, the condors only have a tiny amount of combat fuel left. rather than let it escape, we elect to send it to a watery grave. another medium UFO has appeared in the meantime. But we'll have to refuel before we can intercept it.
...Or not. the ufo lands in Algiers and starts a terror site. Goodie!
Good news first. Angelo managed to bring a prototype scatter laser along. rifles are still being assembled. Also, the terror site is Caesarians.
Bad news, they spawn right outside our aircraft. Hoaxmetal fires off a shot, hoping to deflect reaction fire with his riot shield. The alien misses, and the plasma hits evdk instead. He is dead instantly. RIP Evdk, first of many casualties.
Absalom avenges his fallen comrade. This terror site is off to a great start!
More Xenos are spotted in the gas station. Like in the original UFO, these places have a tendency to go up in flames if you get a bit too careless with grenades and machineguns.
Fortunately, there are side doors in the chinook. After Ashery fails to hit the alien with his sniper rifle, Angelo takes out the xeno with a volley from his scatter laser. The civilian in the gas station was considered an acceptable loss if the whole thing went kablooie.
Evdk was so young....
Meanwhile, the aliens are merrily slaughtering the civilians. Keeping them alive never really occured to me. Every shot the aliens fire at a civvie is a shot that doesn't kill our soldiers and breaks valuable combat armour.
We spot a new type of alien. The miniature flying saucers are fairly fast. They don't deal much damage, but they spray full auto over a large are, causing tons of suppression. A single saucer can easily keep 3-4 xenonauts hunkered down and at low TUs.
Absalom and CIS Sis break off from the main force to deal with the lone Caesarean that's slaughtering civvies to the east. suppressive fire from the saucers keep them from accomplishing much though.
Meanwhile, Phoenix tries to advance up the main street while Ashery plays skeet shooting with his laser rifle against flying saucers.
LundB is volunteered for an XTREME solo mission. He'll be sneaking around the flank and hitting the aliens from behind.
Oops. Looks like the aliens had the same idea. LundB has the higher reflexes however. A shotgun blast to the face later and the Murderswede racks up another kill.
Ashery continues skeet shooting behind Phoenix. We have ourselves a regular western popamole shootout going.
Angelo tries to lay down some covering fire to help CIS and Absalom, but only manages to suppress some civvies.
Meanwhile, yet more saucers spray plasma down the main street, keeping Cis, Absalom and now Hoax as well pinned down.
The last saucer is out of easy reach of Ashery, so Angelo sprays&prays it away. At this point, Phoenix'es shield has 2 hp of durability left after a withering amount of reaction fire. Whatever's behind that bus, it's angry.
It falls to LundB to reveal the enemies of humaity. The flank seems to be clear. A group of Caesarians—including at least one psion—is spread out behind the bus.
TREACHERY! An alien sniper sends a bullet into Absaloms back while she is repositioning. Her screams are for naught, as she bleeds out at the start of our turn before a medkit can be used on her. RIP.
But with the saucer menace finally cleared, CIS Sis can move up to avenge her fallen sister.
LundB is prepared to go XTREME Shepard on the Xenos, but he needs a distraction to get close.
Another round of withering fire from the aliens finally melts through Undead Phoenix'es shield. She suffers mild burns, but is still alive. We're left without cover for the advance however. And we still don't know exactly how many Xenos await around the corner.
In desperation, Phoenix tosses one of our experimental gas grenades. No aliens go down from the blast!
Our only hope now is that the smoke zone can claim some of them over time.
Meanwhile, LundB andvances up the alley. The Xeno hiding in the bus stop shelter is downed, and the Psion leading the attack is spotted in its distinctive purple pimp uniform.
During the aliens turn, the smoke does its job. 2 Caesarians are knocked unconscious by the gas. Two other try to advance on phoenix, but turn back when they take stun damage from entering the lingering cloud.
Phoenix follows up with a flashbang, which knocks out a third.
This is the distraction LindB needed. The Murderswede springs into action, shredding the alien commander with his shotgun!
CIS Sis and Hoax link up with the main force again, taking out the noncombatant cowering in the open.
The last remaining alien tries to flee. It is stunned by a flashbang...
Before Commander LundB charges forward and executes it
Medals for everyone! Gaining medals is the only way to raise a soldiers bravery stat, so they are coveted. For participating in a successful terror mission, everyone but evdk gets a Citation for Courage.
LundB also recieves the Order of Merit for 10 total confirmed kills.
Finally, Ashery gains both the Order of Gallantry for 5 confirmed kills and the Military Cross for 5 kills in a single mission.
Those skeet shooting skills served you well.