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Weapons are pointed towards where Rachel is aiming at. She's looking at one of the trees that was felled thanks to the gauss fire. It's moving a bit. You motion to Harita and one of Jimmy’s other squadmates, another Infantry, to move up and investigate. The pair approach on each side of the tree, the others advancing behind.

Laying on the ground with a part of the tree fallen on it is the Muton, your Muton. The crazy armless alien is splayed out onto the ground… still alive. A pool of it’s own blood has pooled around it from it’s missing arm. Somehow, either through the Muton’s innately ludicrous combat enhanced body or through sheer grit, it has yet to bleed out. You walk over to it, and it stares past you attempted to crane it’s head towards where the Mectoid was. It wheezes, limply trying to move the tree trunk off it.

“Jesus.” Jimmy’s Infantry comments, covering his mouth and nose. The smell of viscera reeks.

“What, uh, do we do with it?” Naru walks over and kicks it in the leg. It doesn’t really react, still focused on trying to remove the tree off of it.

“I like it’s tenacity.” Loco nods in approval. “A shame it is going to just bleed out.”

You glance over and see Jimmy’s other squadmember is a Medic. On your person is your Arc Thrower… and your side arm.

>Mercy kill it. It’s done enough.
>Have the medic stabilize it while you stun it. No need to waste it.
>Other

---
Holy moly, we've reached the 50th thread! I didn't even think I could last past 10 yet here we are!

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BurningGray
Archive: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?tags=XCOM%20Trooper%20Quest
Squad Info: https://pastebin.com/4KJN5HKK

Previous Thread
>>2927303

---

>>2945332
>Have the medic stabilize it while you stun it. No need to waste it.
Time to build out own Muton squad.

>>2945332
>>Have the medic stabilize it while you stun it. No need to waste it.
>Vahlen always said more test samples were a good thing.

>>2945332
>Have the medic stabilize it while you stun it. No need to waste it.

>>2945332
>Other
>Help it turn towards the Mectoid, so it knows it's dead
Let the big guy go with some peace of mind.

>>2945332
>>Mercy kill it. It’s done enough.
It did good, but we had mutons captured already so yeah, time for it to rest.

>>2945332
>Have the medic stabilize it while you stun it. No need to waste it.

Why yes, Shen WOULD like this.

>>2945332
If Squad 2 has Arc Thrower charges stun it.

Otherwise if it's just us mercy kill it.

We need to save some for the Outsider

>>2945332
>>Have the medic stabilize it while you stun it. No need to waste it.

>>2945332
>>Have the medic stabilize it while you stun it. No need to waste it.
Well, Vahlen wanted prisoners.

>>2945332
>Have the medic stabilize it while you stun it. No need to waste it.

>>2945332
>>Have the medic stabilize it while you stun it. No need to waste it.

Calling the vote here, writing!

Your hand starts to reach for your sidearm but you pause. While you won’t be losing sleep over what you did to it it’s still a bit hard to believe that you are capable of just doing that to a living being. There’s nothing left in this Muton’s mind anymore other than the last order you had given it. It probably might not even realize the Mectoid is actually dead even if it saw it. One other thing lingers in your mind as you look down at it.

It felt real good.

Instead of just giving it a merciful death, you instead pull out your Arc Thrower.

“Jimmy, get your Medic to stabilize the Muton while I stun it. We’re taking it home.” You say, turning on you Arc Thrower.

“Really? Seems a bit of a waste innit?” Jimmy scratches his cheek before nodding to his Medic.

“I’m sure Vahlen will find a use for it.” You shrug.

The Medic wanders over and sees to the Muton, using one of her Medikits to seal up the gaping wound which was once the Muton’s arm. The immediate concern of a bleed out sorted, the Medic stands back at you point the Arc Thrower at it’s chest.

It just stares back at you blankly as you pull the trigger.

There’s a burst of blue and a crackle of electricity and it’s out for the count. That’s another alien captured for XCOM. Harita frowns, feeling sympathy for the state of the alien. Loco gives you a thumbs up. You are reminded once again that XCOM takes in all sorts willing to kill some aliens.

“Alright, reload and get ready to move out. That Mectoid had at least one Sectoid escort nearby shielding it, so they’ve either retreated back to the UFO or it’s probably still closeby.” You say.

“It’s just a straight shot to the UFO now, barring the stragglers.” Zhang points out as he places a fresh box of slugs into his MAG Autorifle.

“Should we even waste any time scoping it for a few E.T.’s?” Loki ponders.

>Fan out and sweep for the stragglers as you advance.
>Focus on advancing towards the UFO.
>Other

>>2945561
>>Focus on advancing towards the UFO.
No. With the forest fire here, securing it first is the priority

>>2945561
>>Focus on advancing towards the UFO.

>>2945561
>Focus on advancing towards the UFO.

>>2945561
>Focus on advancing towards the UFO.

>>2945561
>>Focus on advancing towards the UFO.

Calling the vote here, writing!

With the Muton accounted for there’s still another issue, and it’s still time. You don’t want to cut it close with a forest fire that will be hot on your heels. While there is still a risk for whatever handful of aliens are left to be skulking about in the forest, securing the UFO will do for now.

“We’re moving up!” You say to the assorted troopers. “Let’s go!”

You get numerous affirmatives from the other soldiers, those under the effect of Loco are of course a lot more enthusiastic about the prospects. With the order given, you start to move out.

As you do, Loco’s pheromones start to spread out, reaching towards you and the others. And boy, even just a whiff is like one hell of a hit of… well, raw emotion really. Your nose flares up and binges to burn a bit, as if you spent a considerable amount of time chopping onions on one end of the spectrum and noxious gas of a meth lab on the other. Even just taking a few breaths from the substances excreted from Loco is enough to start to slightly affect you.

It’s not bad per se, but it’s difficult to really ignore it.

“Oh no…” Loki groans, coughing and trying to resist it.

“Lighten up, it’s not that bad.” Naru reassures. “You just have to go with the flow.”

“I never asked to go with this flow.” Loki narrows her eyes. “I would rather keep my faculties under my jurisdiction.”

“One gets used to dealing with substances, even if you do not wish to..” Zhang shrugs.

“Hm.” Burnout considers the effects, and for a second there you think you see the man start to get a bit more excited.

The effects are starting to sink in for you, and a newfound confidence starts to swell within you with each small breath you take. No, it’s not confidence, it’s almost similar to a growing bloodlust. Maybe it’s not a bad idea to see where Loco’s Adrenal Neurosympathy will go for you and the others... Though, you can probably get Loco to tone it down for Loki and some of the other troopers who aren’t so sure about it.

>Let the pheromones effect you.
>Askl Loco to ease up.
>Other.

>>2945889
>>Ask Loco to ease up.

>>2945889
>Let the pheromones effect you.
Nothing liking slaughtering aliens while high as balls on "naturally sourced" combat sims.

>>2945889
>>Ask Loco to ease up.

>>2945889
>>Ask Loco to ease up.

>>2945889
>>Ask Loco to ease up.

Calling the vote here, writing!

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Your FBI instincts kick in, and the sensation of getting taken under the effects of… whatever you’d classify as Loco’s gene mod doesn’t sit well for you. There’s a time and a place, and this ain’t it right now. All it takes is one last whiff of the stuff and you have enough,

“Loco.” You start.

“Si~?” She replies back in that sultry voice of hers, you shudder.

“Can you reign in your Gene Mod?”

“Eh?” Loco is taken aback, she tuts. “Come on now, dearest Dozer, everyone is enjoying it.”

“Not particularly, some of us prefer keeping ourselves focused.” Loki mutters.

“We’ll request for it if we need it.” You reason, a bit more diplomatically. Loco is a bit of a difficult case at times.

“Oh very well, I will stop only because it is bothering your precious Loki that much, Dozer.” Loco sighs.

“P-precious!?” Loki hisses, the usual calm and collected aura is put the the test at just a few choice words from the Gene Modded Infantry.

“...Precious?” Harita murmurs in an odd voice.

You think you hear Rook grumble something under his breath, his mic just picking up snippets of it You don’t catch what he’s saying as you’re quickly getting concerned with the sudden back and forth springing up between two strong female troopers.

“Of course!” Loco chuckles, very pleased at pushing Loki’s buttons. Until only recently, that would be considered quite the feat. “Jimmy just could not help during the flight over to start telling us all about your escapa--”

“Is talking about this in the middle of a mission really the time!?” Loki snaps, her voice raising an notch at the sheer absurdity of this discussion.

“Hehe.” Rook chuckles.

As you shake your head that’s when you see movement from the sides. Something small. And then you see the glowing green arcs of a pair plasma grenades sail from opposite sides towards your group’s position. The beeping of the explosive priming is like a bucket of ice water to your face as adrenaline kicks in.

“Grenades!” You shout in alarm.

At that, your fellow troopers start to scatter.

>Roll 1d100+15

Rolled 79 + 15 (1d100 + 15)

>>2946114

Rolled 77 + 15 (1d100 + 15)

>>2946114

Rolled 60 + 15 (1d100 + 15)

>>2946114

Rolled 80 + 15 (1d100 + 15)

>>2946114

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Your reaction times are on point, already moving out of the way from the point where the plasma grenade is going to land before it even completes it’s arc. For once, Burnout is actually slow on the uptake, distracted. You make sure that his momentary lapse of focus isn’t a grave mistake as you yank him out of the way from the blast radius of the grenade with time to spare.

The grenades go off, exploding in a brilliant green ball of death and superheated alien alloy shrapnel. The aliens were prudent enough to even use alien alloys as a weapon, it’s versatility seeming to be as extensive as their power source and MELD. As you regain your senses and look over to Burnout he gives you a thankful nod.

You may have possibly saved his life at this moment, but that’s only one out of dozens in comparison to him. You’re far from even. You and Burnout are already back onto a crouching position even as your ears ring from the alien grenades.

Assessing the situation, you see a pair of forms quickly make a hasty retreat. Their small forms and feral-eseque movement makes it easy to identify they’re Sectoids. Clearly they weren’t cowards and we’re poised to wreck some havoc in an ambush. The little greys are even employing proper guerilla hit and run tactics.

Cheeky little shits.

You assess the rest of your fellow forces. Most of the troopers are still dazed from nearly getting blown into pieces, but both Loki and Q-Tip are already back on their feet. Makes sense for both of the Engineers to not be phased as much from explosives. You note Loco has landed face first on the ground in her attempt to get out of the way of a grenade, besides swallowing some dirt she’ll be fine. A bit of karma then.

You know there were at least a small handful of Sectoids plus the Mectoid in the complement, at least more than just two. You wouldn’t be surprised if they have Sectoids further back hidden in overwatch to blast any pursuers. And you still don’t know the position of the last Muton. It’s still tempting to try and run down the pair of Sectoids however,

“Last of my flashes are ready!” Loki shouts to you.

“HEs primed.” Q-Tip also adds a grenade held in his hand and another spare in his off hand. His throwing arm cocked back and ready to fling at your word.

Burnout readies his Strike Rifle beside you.

>Nade them! It’ll cost resources but it’s worth it. (TN 45)
>Run them down! It’s worth the risk to confirm the kill! (TN 60)
>Let them go and assess your team, no need to rush things or waste resources.
>Other (TN ???)

>>2946222
>>Run them down! It’s worth the risk to confirm the kill! (TN 60)

>>2946222
>>Run them down! It’s worth the risk to confirm the kill! (TN 60)

>>2946222
>Have Burnout attempt to shoot them in the back
If I recall correctly strike rifles are the scout marksman rifles
>Let them go and assess your team if the sectoids survive, no need to rush things or waste resources.

>>2946222
>Nade them! It’ll cost resources but it’s worth it. (TN 45)

>>2946222
>Nade them! It’ll cost resources but it’s worth it. (TN 45)

>>2946222
>Nade them! It’ll cost resources but it’s worth it. (TN 45)

>>2946222
>>Other (TN ???)
Can we nade and have burnout shoot if the sectoid runs from the explosive?

>>2946222
>>Nade them! It’ll cost resources but it’s worth it. (TN 45)

>>2946222
>>Run them down! It’s worth the risk to confirm the kill! (TN 60)
Do we currently have a bonus to some rolls due to Loco's gene mod ?

Calling the vote here, writing!

>>2946321
That'll happen if you commit with the nades, don't worry.

>>2946342
At the current moment? Not for you. You guys turned down the Pheromones.

>>2946351
Could we try to stun a Sectoid with the Arc thrower? We haven't got one yet for Vahlen

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“If you got Nades ready to go, start chucking!” You bark to the Engineers.

“Gladly!” Loki replies, a battle-hardened grin on her face as she starts firing away with her grenade launcher.

Q-Tip meanwhile simply complies, barring a muffled confirmation. In rapid succession, the man begins throwing a pair of HE grenades right back at the retreating Sectoids. The explosives sail as across the air as you avert your eyes, the position ahead of you exploding both in light and in shrapnal.

A literal explosive tit for tat.

As soon as the flash fades, the exact times long since hard coded into your reflexes from many a breach and clear, you already have your gun up as you begin to close on the Sectoid’s position. Behind you, you hear a crack followed by a bassy thump from Burnout’s Magnetic Strike Rifle, a streak of red shooting past your shoulder as you close the gap.

If the Sectoids are still standing you’ll hopefully address that with your Shard Gun!

>Roll 1d100 (TN 45)

Rolled 41 (1d100)

>>2946417

Rolled 57 (1d100)

>>2946417

Rolled 81 (1d100)

>>2946417

>>2946369
?? Didn't we capture one in the France mission.
I'll update the doc to include captures

>>2946369
Why yes, you guys did capture one already! More never hurts however and extra captures means more resources or faster tech!

>>2946421
Ooh, are you the Anon working on a little summary / to do list? Do you happen to have a link? If you are that Anon, the link you gave prior wouldn't load for me for some reason, though I didn't have much experience in the website

>>2946422
It's new for me too.
https://xcom864106258.wordpress.com/

>>2946421
At least we knocked a sectoid unconscious there. I believe it wasn't mentioned whether we actually brought it in or not but I assume we didn't just leave it there to rot.

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As you charge up, you hear the death screech of a Sectoid as Burnout’s Strike Rifle strikes true. It seems the pair of would-be guerillas were not expecting a retaliatory counter battery of explosives and the pair were quickly disorientated and concussed from the flashbangs and HE’s. Their cover blown completely open.

The remaining Sectoid however is in a full retreat and practically in a panic as you follow it in hot pursuit. There’s nothing more exhilarating than running down a fleeing combatant. Unlike the gangbangers and cartel members you’ve dealt with prior, you didn’t have to worry about standard procedure. The rule of engagement with aliens is killing them first and asking questions later.

The runt of a Sectoid is delirious, bumping and crashing into bushes and trees as it attempts to scamper the fuck away from you. It’s completely exposed thanks the forest opening up from Q-Tip’s grenades. You can easily blast the small grey alien no problem with your Shard Gun and be done with it. However you still have two more charges left in your Arc Thrower for captures. You really can’t go run tazing an alien. You’d have to expose yourself out in the open to really get close to taze the thing, though.

If there are any other waiting aliens on the other end of the forest, they’d have a clear shot at you…

>Just gun down the Sectoid!
>Run out there and taze the bugger!
>Other

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>>2946429
Nice! I'll definitely throw that up in the next metapost!

>>2946469
>Just gun down the Sectoid!
We have an outsider to capture.

>>2946469
>>Just gun down the Sectoid!
We're in charge of two combat-crazy squads here, not the time for heroics. Maybe we can taze something later.

>>2946469
>>Just gun down the Sectoid!
Not worth the risk when we have a specimen already, and still have an Outsider to catch this time.

>>2946469
>Just gun down the Sectoid!
Save it for the Outsider.

>>2946469
>Just gun down the Sectoid!

Calling the vote here! It's been a really slow evening tonight, so next post might be the last post.

>>2946469
>>Just gun down the Sectoid
Let's not risk getting shot.

>>2946429
Combining Solace with Loco's gene mods has a chance of removing negative effects/making Loki like it, with a cost of focus. We should check it once psionics go public, since it would be good to know if we go on OP with Loco in the future.
Plus it's an excuse to interact with Loco outside of combat.

>>2946539
>Plus it's an excuse to interact with Loco outside of combat.
I'm sure if there is a majority for a Loco interaction between missions Pixel can make it one of the options.

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When you get closer to the opening made thanks to Q-Tips grenades, you start to slow down. You could get fancy and try and subdue a Sectoid suspect, but with two combat-crazy squads that you are overseeing, there’s no need for heroics. Gotta save the Arc Thrower to bag an Outsider, after all.

Hornet’s team, while proficient in securing splashed UFOs have had difficulty claiming an Outsider for XCOM. With the extra personnel in hand, this might be XCOM’s best chance in bagging the elusive and deadly beings.

Skidding to a halt at the edge, you level your Shard Gun and steady your aim. Your sights are right at the back of the Sectoid, center mass. Digging your back foot into the dirt ever so slightly to stabilize your posture you slow your breathing and keep your sights on the fleeing Sectoid. You hold for as long as you can to further improve your aim. When the Sectoid is starting to exit your Shard Gun’s preferred range, you fire.

The recoil bucks your arms for a moment, but your armor and your stance absorb the kick. A spray of gauss slugs bursts out from the barrel of the weapon and slam into the back of the Sectoid. It lets out a gurgling screech as it crumples onto the ground, it’s body going limp over a log.

“Target down.” You say, pumping your Shard Gun with satisfaction.

Sectoids stand no chance against Gauss Weapons.

Rachel stomps over to a stop beside you, watching as the Sectoid’s corpse starts to slowly slump onto the side, it’s legs dangling from the log. It’s an almost comical sight, in a morbid way.

[Sectoids stand no chance against XCOM now.] Rachel comments.

“That they don’t.” You agree.

Once upon a time, Sectoids were a nightmare. What a thought.

You wipe beads of sweat from your forehead, raising your helmet up for a short moment. The heat from the fire is starting to get to you.

“Just a few more aliens and the UFO is ours!” Jimmy grins, hefting his Mag Machine Gun like a fellow straight out of an action movie instead of proper form. You can see a slight hazy orange gas around him, lingering pheromones clinging onto his person.

You’re about to comment on on that when your mission support, Anna, suddenly chimes in over squad comms.

“Hey, you guys should really hurry up!” Anna says, hurriedly. “We’re getting a spike energy readings from the UFO. They’re preparing to take off!”

You and Rachel look ahead, towards the UFO, and you feel the hum of the spacecraft's engines start to come alive. An otherworldly almost ethereal hum from the ship's power source.

The aliens would rather attempt to run away and risk getting shot down than just giving you an intact UFO. You just let out an exasperated sigh.

Of fucking course they would... the spiteful bastards.

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>...And with that I'm going to call it here. Hopefully things will pick up throughout the rest of the week. It seemed like a pretty slow run for several of the other quests I was reading too tonight. Oh well! The participation here is appreciated so until next update...

Thanks for playing!

>>2946555
Thanks for running

>>2946555
Thanks for running

>tfw from yurop and have to miss most of the runs because don't want to fuck up my sleep schedule

Good to see you muricans are keeping the quest running for Pixel.

>>2946555
Thanks for running!

>>2946114
Haha, i love Loco

>>2946568
Yeah i'd participate more if time allowed it

>>2946568
Hopefully winter time (don't ask, Americans) will set us an hour closer to Pixel's timezone.

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It seems you may have spooked the aliens a bit too much. In nearly any other situation, this would be a good thing. Great even. Just thinking about the terror you inflicted as a Juggernaut back in France was a sight to behold. This currently however is not ideal, and the rest of the troopers know it. The rest of the assorted XCOM soldiers come to a stop at the clearing, feeling the rattling and reverberating hum of the UFO’s engines.

Rachel is just watching ahead silent beside you, still as a statue.

“Well shit, this sucks… say, you guys think I can snipe a Shredder into the cockpit?” Naru wonders.

“It wouldn’t be possible even your aim is true, it’s shielding would nullify your efforts. It would make a rather pretty shimmering effect as the explosive detonates on the shield similar to the Mectoid, but that’s it.” Loki shakes her head.


“Can’t help to try, right?”

“From one fellow explosives expert to another, that rocket is better used elsewhere.”

“Boo.”

Rachel glances over to Naru and then back ahead, her suit whirring slightly with each precise movement.

“Perhaps we can get in close? Surely we can reach it in time before it fully takes off.” Zhang wonders, regarding the terrain towards the UFO.

Besides the forest belching smoke and orange embers, it would be a relatively straight shot otherwise. Rachel seems to adjust her stance slightly, and you note her helmeted head making rapid and short movements, as if considering things. Her MECs subsystems likely aiding her in whatever number crunching and tactical analysis she’s got working in her head.

You think you’re starting to understand what Rachel has in mind.

“Nah.” A now relatively relaxed Jimmy steps up. It seems the pheromones are starting to wear off. “The plasma cannon will just disintegrate ya’ if we were even fast enough to get there. S’far we see it, it’s our air force’s job to shoot it down now. Then we can mop up what’s left, yeah?”

[Boarding the UFO is not impossible.] Rachel finally states, having reached a final assessment of things.
You can’t help but smirk a bit.

“Wha?” Jimmy scratches his chin.

Rachel turns to face the rest of the squad, reloading a fresh drum of ammunition into her autocannon as she speaks. There’s a loud thud as the previous spent drum clatters onto the ground. The drum itself is as large as a small barrel.

“What do you reckon, Rachel?” You ask her, tossing the ball in her court.

[The Goliath-1 suit is capable of transporting two units safely for rapid redeployment. With the MEC suit, terrain shall not be an issue and if necessary the suit is well within parameters to be able to out maneuver the UFO’s plasma cannons and board the UFO without issues.]

“You actually want to play tag with a UFO?” Loco says incredulously as she wipes dirt off of her face, and then laughs. As she does a small burst of pheromones seeps out. “Not bad, clanker! Not bad! But who will join you for your valiant charge, hm?”

>You’re in.
>On second thought…
>Other.

>>2952407
>You’re in.
>Load me up with any flashbangs, grenades, and a fully powered arc thrower if possible
Squad 2 should still be pretty fresh on consumables.

>>2952407
>>You’re in.
Nice update, seems we're going to try and hijack a UFO.

>>2952407
>You’re in.
Grand theft UFO. Bueno.

>>2952407
>You’re in.

>>2952407
>And take Harita with us, she's perfect for CQC.

>>2952407
>>You’re in.

>>2952407
>You’re in.
Bring Harita with us

>>2946626
Americans have daylight savings as well m8

>>2952407
>>You’re in.
Us and harita or us and burnout

>>2952407
>You’re in.
Us and Harita
Give us any extra supplies

>>2952407
>>You’re in.

>>2952407
>You’re in.
And bring Harita.

>>2952407
>You’re in.
Harita comes with us, like others are saying

>>2953071
plus if we get inside, but don't seem get control over the ufo fast enough, can't we just blow up the power source from within and the thing will drop? It would be shame for the power source, but the ship will be mostly be intact.

>>2952407
>You’re in.

>>2952407
>You’re in.
Maybe we should tell command about our plan to get on a UFO that's lifting off.

Calling the vote here!

>>2952407
>>Other.
Dozer and Harrita will go. Well also assume that the UFO has some oretty good airbags.

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“I’m in.” You say.

The other troopers look at you. What? You’re just going to be hijacking a UFO. This isn’t even your first one! Amusingly, Strike-1 is mostly unphased while the other team gives you quite the look. It’s good to know your team is used to your antics.

Rook just sighs.

“Ahaha!” Loco grins widely like some maddened cheshire cat. There’s another puff of pheromones, it’s like someone is repeatedly blowing up a case of perfume. “The A-Team continues to be insane! I approve!”

Loki winces and coughs, waving her hand over her face in distaste of the smell.

“A team? I do not understand” Zhang frowns.

“What the hell Zhang, I’m not even American I know what the A-Team is.” Naru looks disappointed, her glowing eyes bemused.

“Sometimes I find that hard to believe you aren’t American. You are quite fond of their culture.” Zhang points out and shrugs.

“S-so maybe I do! Big whoop wanna fight about it, wiseguy?” Naru narrows her eyes, it reminds you of a slit of light from peeking through blinds. Makes sense you guess, given eyes are the windows of the soul?

“Save it for the aliens, we are all on the same team,” Harita says trying to quickly defuse to grumbling Rocketeer.

Rachel cranes her head down towards you and nods, her visored face denotes nothing of her reaction behind the helmet. If she was out of the MEC suit, you’d like to imagine she’s pretty pleased by it, but you can’t tell. You make a mental note to ask her later when she’s not suited up.

You turn to Jimmy. “I’m going to need any extra explosives or kit you guys have on hand. Grenades, Flashbangs, a fully charged Arc Thrower if you got one. Anything to give us an edge when we’re boarding.”

“Gotcha. I’ll do you one more and let Command know your squads usual insanity.” Jimmy gives you a pat on the shoulder before turning to his squad to see what they got. Q-Tip quickly starts sorting kit out in a quick pace. You’ll admit the gas masked Engineer is quick to follow orders and efficiently too.

[I can also carry one more person.] Rachel points out.

Two members from your own squad come to mind right away. The first is your fellow Assault, Harita. Next is the nimble Burnout. They both would complement Rachel’s just the perfect amount of crazy of an idea. Of course, there’s always the others in the forces as well. You’re sure they’ll do it if prodded enough. Maybe you can convince them that it’ll annoy the pilots so much when you one-up them. Again.

>Take Harita.
>Take Burnout.
>Take someone else. (Specify)

>>2954102
>>Take Harita.
Boarding = CQC = Assault. Not much else to say.

>>2954102
> Take Harita

>>2954102
>>Take Harita.

>>2954102
Also, maybe one of us should carry one medkit, just in case.

>>2954102
>Take Harita.

>>2954102
>Take Harita.

>>2954102
>Take Harita.

>>2954102
>Take Harita.

>>2954102
>>Take Harita.

>>2954102
>Take Harita

>>2954102
>>Take Harita.
Assuming we have at least one battle scanner

>>2954102
>Take Harita.

>>2954102
>>Take Harita.
Shotgun team go!

>>2954102
>>Take Harita.
Close encounters of the bad kind, lads.

Calling the vote here!

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Sorry for the delay, TLP was a too fun!

---

“Harita, you up for some piracy?” You ask the fellow Assault.

“Yes I am.” Harita says, and you can see a bit of excitement twinkle in her eyes. Seems you picked well.

Rachel nods almost imperceptibly.

The rest of the rapid last second prep is both you and Harita being handed any extra kit that the others have that can be carried without slowing you down. You’re handed two AP grenades, Flashbang, and a spare and fully charged Arc Thrower. Harita meanwhile is loaded up on two spare Medikits and a hopefully unnecessary HE grenade. You wouldn’t want her to blow up the interior but if cover needs to go in the cockpit you won’t hesitate to have her throw it.

Geared up and ready for a fight, the other squad members give you their assortment of good lucks and banter as you and Harita climb on top of, Rachel. The out of context implication is just as slightly distracting of a thought to you as literally rodeo riding a MEC. Such is fighting an alien invasion, you suppose.

“We’re ready.” You say, thumping Rachel’s mechanized shoulder as if one would a tank.

[Copy that.] Rachel affirms, preparing herself to dash forward. However, before she does, she lowers the volume of her voice modulator. Saying something you don’t quite catch at first, but you spot Harita smile.

“Could you repeat that?” You ask.

A second of pause.

[...Thanks for giving my suggestion a chance.] Rachel murmurs, her voice volume raised enough so only you can catch it. You actually catch a slight inflection of emotion in that. Which likely means a lot given how much her personality is dampened in the suit.

It’s your turn to crack a grin now.

“No problem. It’s crazy enough to work, after all.”

[Very well. Now, hold on.]

You and Harita take it for word as you are nearly knocked off the suit when Rachel starts dashing ahead. The MEC crosses the forest ahead with computer calculated precision, juking about while keeping momentum and crashing through smaller plants and forest if it doesn’t slow her down. You reach the brook where the UFO is already a few feet hovering above. A handful of Sectoids are still scrambling onto the sides of the UFO to hurriedly get in, one is literally hanging off the ledge.

The moment they spot you however, the Sectoids start opening fire and the alien Scout’s plasma cannon starts to unveil itself from beneath the UFO. Rachel is already jerking to the side as plasma fire reigns and the cannon starts to charge up to vaporize you! The Sectoid hanging off the ledge starts to screech in panic, legs flailing about helplessly as it tries to climb on.

Here we go!

>Return fire at the Sectoids! Minimize risks even if there’s a risk you could fall off Rachel! (TN 40-65)
>Try and chuck a nade at them! It’s a throw while moving on a raising UFO, but you might land it and eliminate most of the Sectoids! (TN 70-80)
>Just focus hold on tight and let Rachel focus on dodging and tanking plasma fire!
>Other (TN ???)

>>2956676
>>Return fire at the Sectoids! Minimize risks even if there’s a risk you could fall off Rachel! (TN 40-65)

>>2956676
>>Return fire at the Sectoids! Minimize risks even if there’s a risk you could fall off Rachel! (TN 40-65)

>>2956676
>Return fire at the Sectoids! Minimize risks even if there’s a risk you could fall off Rachel! (TN 40-65)

>>2956676
>Return fire

>>2956676
>Return fire with a pistol.
We can do it one-handed, so less risk of falling off.

>>2956676
>Return fire at the Sectoids! Minimize risks even if there’s a risk you could fall off Rachel! (TN 40-65)
use a pistol, less likely to fall off.

>>2956676
>>Return fire at the Sectoids! Minimize risks even if there’s a risk you could fall off Rachel! (TN 40-65)
Use a pistol, it can be fired with one hand only

>>2956676
>>Return fire at the Sectoids! Minimize risks even if there’s a risk you could fall off Rachel! (TN 40-65)

Calling the vote here, writing!

As wild of a ride as it is for you as you hold on to the bucking MEC suit, you still needed to try and get some of the heat off of the three of you! This is only further affirmed when a blast of plasma from one of the Sectoid’s wrist guns flies by just over your head. You can almost feel the sizzle even from your helmet! The little grey aliens may be as a whole not that great shots, all it would take is enough volume of fire for a lucky hit to score on you or Harita.

“Return fire! Use your pistol!” You shout to Harita.

“Alright!”

You hook your arm around the riding handle as tight as you can as. With your other arm you unholster your Rail Pistol. The main firing tube and the Gaussian magnets within are already glowing red hot and vibrating with energy as you grip it, the handle’s sensors feeling your hand. A pre-emptive measure to maximize the sidearms firepower.

You raise your pistol at one of the rising Sectoids on one of the open platforms of the UFO, your aim bobbing and weaving erratically with each quick step from Rachel’s MEC suit. At least this is probably better at range than one-handing your Shard Gun. You grit your teeth, steady the aim as best as you can, and fire!

>Roll 1d100 (TN 35-60!)

Rolled 100 (1d100)

>>2956765

What do I win?

Rolled 98 (1d100)

>>2956765
rol--


>>2956769
YEAH

>>2956773
shiny bits for Dozer.

>>2956774
>off by 2
That's very good too. Now lets hope the third roll is 95+ as well.

Rolled 28 (1d100)

>>2956765
>>2956769
Dayum, with a roll like that who needs 3 rolls

>>2956769
Holy moley, it looks like Dozer learned a new pistol trick. Writing!

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215 KB JPG

>>2956769
Huh. That's a thing.

>>2956789
>"It's High Noon!'
>"But Dozer it is Midnight!"
>[It is a reference.]
>"Oh"

Since it's night maybe we'll get shadowfall

Maybe you work better under pressure, or maybe some long forgotten technique from when you were in the FBI resurfaced, but something clicks in your head as you grasp the pistol in your hand. You have and always will be a devout follower of the Shotgun, but when you start opening fire at the Sectoids something magical happens.

They start dropping with each pull of the trigger.

Even in the conditions which you are in right now when you shoot, which are quite awful mind you, in that moment you might as well be shooting at stationary targets a few feet in front of you. You are snapping through each target and blasting them dead with an accurate blast from your Rail Pistol and at a breakneck speed too.

Three shots within less than a couple of seconds.

Out of the four sectoids that were firing at you by the UFO’s holodoorway, two slump over and one plummets off the side of the UFO. It drops into the brook with a splash. The remaining Sectoid stops firing, looks to the side, blinks at the sight of it’s dead fellows. It then promptly screeches in horror and runs the fuck inside of the UFO. There’s only one Sectoid left outside, and it’s still just hanging off the side of the rising spacecraft. That poor dangling bastard is now freaking out even more.

You look back at Harita in disbelief and she shares the same look with you. You look down at your now very trusty and useful sidearm. Did someone replace your shooting hand in your sleep? Or did Shen give you a fancy prototype and forgot to tell you?

It seems like you might have freaking Lightning Hands or something now.

...

Hell. Yes.

Your good mood from this however is promptly shattered as the UFO’s plasma cannon fires at you, Harita, and Rachel. It doesn’t start off as a booming blast but instead you hear the air around it seem to suck up. A droning noise of alien energy building and building up… until it cracks in a massive burst of energy and noise. There’s a concussive shockwave that ripples out in the brook below the UFO. Your eyes widen as a ball of plasma the size of a small car is blasted in your direction!

[Evasive maneuvers engaged!] Rachel’s yells.

The MEC’s systems are set into overdrive. There’s a sudden burst of energy as you feel yourself be surged ahead as the forest right behind you just… disintegrates. What was once a collection of trees is turned into green ash as Rachel manages to evade it in time. There’s no way the three of you would have survived that if you got hit.

Death becomes very, very, real to you once again. The sight behind you is one hell of a reality check. Fear and possibly panic, that ever unwanted emotion scrambles to the surface. You grit your teeth and use that anger within you to stomp that fear back down the hole it burst out from. You’ll deal with that later!

Unfortunately, the UFO is already charging up for another blast.

(Part 1 / 2)

“Raven-5 here, what the hell are you jarheads doing down there!?” One of the Interceptor pilots says in confusion.

“Taking a UFO! What else does it look like!?” You shout back, letting some of your anger inadvertently slip through. Nearly being atomized has that effect.

“Fucking hell… we can do a gun run on it! It’ll be danger close but we can spook it or damage it enough to throw off it’s aim!”

“Command wants us to take it in one piece!” You snap back. “You’ll probably make damn UFO do something worse!”

“No shit, but we know how bad those plasma cannons are. We have to deal with it in every single sortie! It’s rate of fire is only going to increase with each shot!”

Fuuuuck!

>Have the pilots help out, danger close and damaged UFO be damned!
>You have this under control, tell them to stay back!
>Other

>>2956850
>>You have this under control, tell them to stay back!

>>2956850
>>You have this under control, tell them to stay back!
NOPE! ONE, PIECE! Dozer and Strike-1 WILL Deliver!

>>2956850
>>You have this under control, tell them to stay back!

>>2956850
>>You have this under control, tell them to stay back!

>>2956850
>You have this under control, tell them to stay back!

>>2956850
>You have this under control, tell them to stay back!

Calling the vote here, writing!

Rolled 90 (1d100)

I'm relieved we didn't have to roll for that. I think we spent all our luck on that last one.

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>>2956900

“The situation’s under control! Hold your positions!” You less shout and more command.

“...Copy that!” Raven-5 signs off, sounding more incredulous than anything else at the sheer tenacity of your plan.

Technically, it’s not your plan but Rachel’s.

With a very immediate countdown consisting of a plasma cannon aimed at you, you begin to work frantically to both figure out how to get on that UFO and at the same time not just fall off with how fast Rachel is going. She’s just blitzing through the forest wholesale now. Tree in front? Not anymore. Rocks? More like a bunch of smaller rocks and pebbles. She’s also slowing down and moving erratically at random moments. Your MEC is doing everything in her power to be as difficult of a shot to the tracking plasma cannon.

The UFO is surprisingly starting to hover and follow you. Which is both good in that it’s not getting any higher to be out of reach to board, but bad in that well… it’s following you. Could be that the Sectoid or that Muton was so terrified and vengeful of all the buddies you and your own killed and wanted to make sure there was pay back before flying away back into space. It’s partly nice to know your work is being appreciated even by the aliens.

[The brook bends into a river ahead. I will be more difficult for me to maneuver but there is a rise I can climb that we can used to easily board the UFO. ] Rachel informs as calmly as she can. The MEC suit’s associated personality ‘drift’ on her helps.

You look forward and see the way ahead being indeed rocky in elevation, but you do see that rise.

“I see it!” You confirm.

“Wait! I have a visual on a large hill on the other side of the brook!” Harita points out. “We could use that to close the distance on the UFO!!”

“We’ll be exposed.” You grimace, as you spot the hill, the trees go sparse and start to open up there.

“It will be faster and we might be able to be on the UFO before it firest at us.” Harita quickly reasons.

[There is one more option. But you will both have to trust me.] Rachel says.

“What’s that!?” You ask as you feel your hairs at the back of your neck start to stand as you feel the plasma cannon warm up further.

[I throw you both at the UFO.]

You gape. That’s… yeah. Being flung at a UFO sounds rightfully insane, but so is everything else you’ve been doing right now. Your armor would be able to take it and you don’t doubt the MEC suit and Rachel’s previous occupation as an Engineer with one hell of a throwing arm will be successful but… you and Harita won’t have MEC support on that UFO. Plus there’s the whole being thrown part.

“I trust you!” Harita says without even hesitation to Rachel. There’s no inkling of hesitation like you have.

It’s good to know Harita is fine with it if you do go through with that, you suppose.

The plasma cannon continues to charge and you realize you have to make a call now!

>Go for the rocky path! (TN 70)
>Go for the hill! (TN 30-90)
>Have Rachel throw you both! (TN !?!)
>Other (???)

>>2956963
We don't have a Titanfall pilot suit BT but...

>Have Rachel throw you both! (TN !?!)
Fuck it

>>2956963
>Rocky path

Having MEC on that UFO will be quite of an asset

>>2956963
>Go for the hill! (TN 30-90)

Curses, thought I'd have more time to throw up another update before stopping but it doesn't seem to be the case. That last post will be it for today or possibly for several hours! Probably a good vote to leave for more people to consider, admittedly.

Thanks to the Anons that stayed around for this short burst of activity!

>>2956963
>Go for the rocky path! (TN 70)

>>2956963
>Go for the hill! (TN 30-90)
Run it down.

>>2956963
>>Have Rachel throw you both! (TN !?!)
BT?

>>2956963
>>Have Rachel throw you both! (TN !?!)

>>2956963
>>Have Rachel throw you both! (TN !?!)
Shes been with us from the start, and trusted us in Vegas even when it failed her. We must repay that trust.

>>2956963
>>Go for the hill! (TN 30-90)
We're going to need the Mech support.

>>2956963
>>Go for the hill! (TN 30-90)

Less about trust and more about needing MEC support

>>2956963
>Go for the rocky path! (TN 70)

WE will need Rachel for this

>>2956963
>>Have Rachel throw you both! (TN !?!)

>>2956975
>>2957009
>>2957012
>>2957024
>>2957290
Why this leaves us with even less people and more likely to get flanked due to not enough people.

>>2956963
>>2957024
>>2957296
I think I misunderstood. If Rachel has no way of jumping in herself after she throws us than I will switch my vote to the hills. If she does, I will keep it the same.

>>2956963

Have Rachel throw us, it's the best option

>>2957326
Except we lose Rachel, which means we're kinda screwed.

>>2957303
>You gape. That’s… yeah. Being flung at a UFO sounds rightfully insane, but so is everything else you’ve been doing right now. Your armor would be able to take it and you don’t doubt the MEC suit and Rachel’s previous occupation as an Engineer with one hell of a throwing arm will be successful but… you and Harita won’t have MEC support on that UFO. Plus there’s the whole being thrown part


>you and Harita won’t have MEC support

>>2956963
>Have Rachel throw you both! (TN !?!)

>>2957009
>>2957012
>>2957351


>1 uid wanting us to get flanked by not having enough people on the mission.

Did you guys forget vegas?

>>2956963
>Go for the hill! (TN 30-90)
No way we're doing this without Rachel.

>>2956963
>Go for the hill! (TN 30-90)

>>2956963
>>Go for the hill! (TN 30-90)

>>2956789
>>2956769
>tfw this is the second time we used a pistol while riding Rachel that we rolled well

>>2957525
she's a good girl

>>2957615
If we consistently do this well when riding off her, we'd need to install a passenger seat onto the MEC frames.

>>2956963
>>Go for the rocky path! (TN 70)
So... if i understand right, the rocky path has more cover, but there's more of a chance we don't make it in time. While hill makes it easier to board while leaving us open for a deadly cannon. As much i would love intact ship, let's stay behind cover as much as possible and have Ravens shoot it down if we fail. It's tough call though, i wish we had a smoke grenade to cover our advance.

>>2956963
>Go for the rocky path! (TN 70)

>>2956963
>Go for the rocky path! (TN 70)
All or nothing. The hill probably means Rachel getting hit if we don't roll a 90

>>2957615
If we get some free time, we should probably help her get her MEC suit a custom paint job, or even a custom pilot suit.

I remember suggesting we study MEC cavalry tactics with MECs going into combat with riders. It's fun to see this kind of thing happen in the quest.

On a side note we should see if we can fly using psionics at some point.

File: 9998946515.png (1.55 MB, 1015x1200)

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>>2957887
So what kind of colour scheme do you think would go with Rachel?

>>2956963
>Go for the rocky path! (TN 70)

>>2958009
Maybe full black or dark grey. Or we could paint it with forest camo, not that it helps though, a MEC is pretty hard to hide.

Calling the vote here!

>>2956963
>>Have Rachel throw you both! (TN !?!)

>>2957929
Urban camo

>>2957929
Good hecking idea

“As exciting as it is to be thrown at UFO, and I know you can do it, I need you in that UFO with me!” You hurriedly explain to Rachel before pointing ahead. “We’re taking the rocky path!”

At first, you think she might have taken your initial explanation the wrong way. And to great alarm as she starts to slow down a bit. Did your initial doubts of your trust in her throw her off enough she’s now losing focus? You think back to all that shit in Vegas and sitting with her against the wall in that MEC lounge area. Fuck, did you just kill you, Harita, and Rachel because of being an insensitive asshole now of all times?

Why the hell haven’t you been checking on your squad’s mental health as much and just playing magician. You're a goddamn idiot.

“Rachel!?” Harita exclaims, looking back and spotting the glowing green plasma cannon.

No answer. All you feel is the MEC slowing down as your heart rate spikes up at the same time.

[Advancing.] Rachel says almost plainly. You catch something in the voice, a change in the inflection. Something you said definitely changed.

And then you’re [i]really[/i] off. You thought you were going at full speed prior, but it seems Rachel has cranked it up to another notch. Steam and smoke and little warning noises start beeping and whining all across the MEC chassis as Rachel pushes her machine, her other half, to the breaking point. You have to use both arms to not be thrown off into the rocks now.

Was it something you said?!

No time to think, you just need to hold on -- and worse yet you hear the plasma cannon start to fire!

>Roll 1d100+25 (TN 70)

Rolled 15 + 25 (1d100 + 25)

>>2958470

Rolled 91 + 25 (1d100 + 25)

>>2958470

Rolled 3 + 25 (1d100 + 25)

>>2958470

>>2958470
What was insensitive about saying “I want you there with me”?

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>>2958477

>>2958477
Wow. That was... motivating? haha!

>>2958477
BASED

Thank you dice gods

>>2958491
I think she was reacting to the fact that we were actually saying we need her and don't want to leave her behind.

Rolled 70 (1d100)

>>2958477
Well done.

>>2958470
I bet Rachel was blushing under that helmet!

You have to really press yourself tight against the MEC chassis for any bit of extra grip as Rachel continues her high speed stride. The rocky pathway that runs along the now river beside you is an eclectic mix of boulders and rocks of different shapes and sizes, all smoothened and worn down by the river. The random sizes of the terrain naturally leave an assortment of holes and dips that would make even an experienced hiker have to slow down to traverse, let alone a giant MEC plus two that has a UFO right on its tail. The terrain is definitely not ideal.

This doesn’t seem to bother Rachel at all, as she bounds, runs, and even vaults over stone. There’s a dexterity and expertise to it that makes even the bulky and, well, mechanical nature of the MEC suit suddenly have a sort of elegance to it. You always thought Rachel was really in her element with a shield in her hands. You were wrong.

The UFO then fires another shot at you all again.

You feel a sudden shift as gravity starts to pull you down. Rachel dives onto a particularly wide and semi-flat boulder, metal skidding and causing many sparks across the rock surface, scratching and chipping the simple olive green paintjob of the MEC suit. She digs her MEC’s limbs onto the rock, forever ruining it’s smooth surface but allows her to slow down and not slip off of it. The huge bolt of plasma soars at you -- and then passes by overhead -- colliding into the river.

When the blast of blinding green fades you note that there really isn’t a part of river anymore so much as a new crater sized lake for water to fill up now, trees nearby bended back from the impact. You idly think it’d be a nice place to swim in once it settles. There’s no time to gape as you already feel Rachel pull herself up and continue moving.

Before you or Harita can really even come to terms with things, Rachel is already ascending the rise of rock, scaling it like it was nothing. The MEC pilot is able through either calculations in her suits systems or sheer intuition find the right foot and hand holds or to not just drop the three of you down back onto the the water, or worse, the rocks. Armor can take a beating but that would still not be pleasant.

You reach the top and can see the area around you and, well, it’s mostly aflame. Naru’s flamethrower is really doing some damage. Rachel turns to the approaching UFO, it’s purple and green glow completely unnatural as it hovers forward, illuminated by the fires below in the night sky. The UFO, now realizing the situation starts to slow down to reverse and gain height at the same time. It’s trying to angle away from the now very real threat. However, Rachel’s already flinging herself, Harita, and yourself across the divide at the UFO.

(Part 1 / 2)

You feel your stomach lurch and feel a sense of weightlessness as you soar in the air. The wind rushing for a moment until you reach the peak of the arc and things slow down for a few frantic heartbeats. You’re eyes are bulging and darting around, looking at the hug drop below you. You’ve never really had a fear of heights, but in that moment of being airborne you do. A primal pang of sheer horror at what’s happening. You picture the three of slamming onto the ground below, turning into scrap metal and chunks. It even overrides your innate constant anger for a moment.

And then you hear Harita give out an exhilarated yell, filled with sheer excitement. Your eyes snap to her and she’s ecstatic. If it wasn’t for the fact she needs to hold on, it looks like she’d throw her arms up like she was in a rollercoaster ride. Is.. is she actually having fun right now!?

The UFO quickly comes closer and closer and Rachel collides with it, managing to extend her arms to grab the lip of the lower half of the UFO. You feel the aircraft lurch slightly for a moment and you hear a sudden high pitched cry. It’s not Harita’s however but instead the Sectoid who was hanging off the side the entire time. You watch as it falls and falls and falls. One less alien to deal with, you suppose.

With ease, Rachel pulls herself up over the top and climbs onto the platform of the UFO, slipping through the outer ‘shield’ shell encasing it with ease. It seems it’s really only to stop projectiles and doesn’t stop people or aliens from crossing. Your heart is pounding, but you made it.
“Wow! That was incredible!” Harita says with a big smile on her face. Her hair is a completely frizzy mess with her twinbraids barely kept together by only sheer tenacity and grit by the hair bands, she doesn’t seem to mind.

“That… was something…” You pant, your body still latched onto the carrying handle. Your body doesn’t want to let go for a moment, fearing you might fall and plumment off the side of the UFO like the Sectoid.

[The objective is not completed yet.] Rachel points out, already having trained her autocannon at the holodoor.

Right. You still have to clear the UFO and then somehow land. You almost forgot in all the excitement.

[There are multiple entrances into the cockpit.] Rachel reminds. [You both can easily climb up onto the roof of the UFO to cross. Schematics of the craft confirm there is enough handholds to allow you traverse easily above.]

“A multi-breach is a possibility then.” You say, nodding slowly.. “But there’s only three of us…”

There really isn’t that many aliens left. You hope.

[Awaiting orders.]

"As am I!" Harita says, still grinning and ready for a fight. This a new side of her for sure.

You take another breath, calming yourself as best as you can as you ignore how the individual trees below are getting smaller and blending together into one general mass of darkened green and flames.
>Single Breach.
>Multi-Breach
>Other

>>2958632
>Multi-Breach
Harita and us on one side and Rachel on the other. Rachel should enter one second before we do to turn eyes towards her letting the assaults slip in the back.

As an aside, the XCOM 2 TLP bonus soundtrack based on UFO defense is soooo goood. I've been listening to the album on loop while writing and it's really got me energized to throw these updates out. Would highly reccomend!

>>2958632
>>Single Breach.

>>2958632
>>Multi-Breach

Single breach is the orthodox and methodical method to clearing a craft, but also more predictable to defenders to let them prepare, and the slowest method. Due to the time limit of not wanting this craft to go too high up, we need to get to the control room ASAP so we can set it down without too much crashing. After all, we have no way to control the flight even if we take it over due to alien controls.

>>2958632
>Multi-Breach
I just hope this is not where Dozer dies - by falling off a UFO because players rolled a 10 three times in a row

>>2958632
>>Single Breach.
We should take advantage of potential disorder and attack hard and fast. Rachel takes point and we throw a flash as soon as we enter the room. Don't give them any time to prepare!

>>2958632
>>Multi-Breach

>>2958632
>>Multi-Breach

>>2958632
>>Single Breach.

>>2958674
Multi-Breach is SHORTER. You have all your reasons completely reversed and wrong. By doing single-breach, the enemy knows exactly where to congregate and consolidate to repel intruders, and a single team means they have to only move as one from corner to corner, and room to room to get to the control room.

Multi-breach on the other hand cannot be predicted, and using the handhold is FAR LESS detectable than directly charging and firing from one direction. Indeed, by using the alternative entrances many rooms can be bypassed directly to get to the control room faster than otherwise.

>>2958674
>>2958646

Also, you can't vote twice for the same option.

Wait does UFO have multiple rooms, or just one big one like EU small scouts do? Whatever we do, Rachel goes first and grabs their attention, while we prep a flash. If we're lucky, the outsider is still has to focus on piloting and can't fight effectively.

Waiting for others, especially Rachel really made a difference, didn't it? Not only for this plan, but also for killing the mechtoid.

>>2958632
>Single Breach.
let's not let ourselves get outflanked immediately yeah? And we wanted mech support so let's BE SUPPORTED.

>>2958687
>By doing single-breach, the enemy knows exactly where to congregate and consolidate to repel intruders, and a single team means they have to only move as one from corner to corner, and room to room to get to the control room.

Remember how we did a headcount of the Aliens?
Two muton pods (dead) the mectoid (dead) and it's sectoid escort(dead) only thing left are MAYBE some chyrsallids and the outsider and it's escorts.

The chrysalids are much better to bunch up against. to focus fire on. The outsider is a joke at this point unless it has some serious muscle as it's bodyguards that we have not seen.

Multibreach is not shorter, because we have to literally walk across the entire length of the ship in hostile footing to get into position to pull it off. they will figure it out in short order that "hey they are not breaching immediately cover both doors" and act accordingly.

In addition to this the entire time while we move on the OUTSIDE of the ship it will be getting high and higher up and farther and farther away. If it goes evasive we are dead.

Finally I highly doubt the sensros on a ship this advanced cannot see us right now, so they are likely watching us right now. Going outside means pilot goes evasive to shake us off.

Take advantage of the fact we're in a group, use flashes and explosive and blitz them now while they are not as ready as they will be in a few minutes.

>>2958708
Its a single control room like xcom1 scout ufos with the more practical outer doorway design for ufos in xcom2.

>>2958660
>>2958711
Both make very good points, but I think I'll go with
>Single Breach.

>>2958632
>>Multi-Breach

>>2958711
One of the mutons DID escape juggernaut in the earlier thread. If he's not killed by the forest fire he's there. So we're looking at a muton, outsider, and unknown number of sectoids... and maybe a lid or two. So 3-7 enemies is my guess, depending on how many stragglers made it.

>>2958632
>Single breach

We have got flashes and we have got the Bolt thrower. Let´s finish this before we get out of the atmosphere.

Besides, if the UFO has any sort of internal cameras, Rachel will be ganked while we cross the roof of the UFO.

>>2958711
The number of aliens inside it doesn't matter. Large amount or not the tactics doesn't change when the priority is getting the ship down ASAP. The risk of this ship getting too high means no matter how flawless the capturing goes it can't b secured since it would just crash and kill everyone in it.

Also, literally walking across the ship happens in either scenario to get to the control room. The difference is single breach means going through whatever hallways the ship has inside, AND going through the enemy, while outside is a straight path with no defenders. It's obvious the outside path is the shorter one. I'm not sure how did you ever come to the conclusion that going outside means walking slowly and easily heard when people generally cannot hear anything outside at all when they're in a flying vessel. Why? Real flying planes are LOUD if they are not insulated due to airflow, and normal modern planes are all quiet in flight for the passengers are in due to noise-reduction. The spaceship then obviously would even be better insulated and the people in it would have an even harder time to notice anyone walking on the hull.

>>2958739
>Besides, if the UFO has any sort of internal cameras, Rachel will be ganked while we cross the roof of the UFO.
That actually makes sense.

>>2958632
Switching my vote from >>2958663 to
>Single Breach.

>>2958632
>>Single Breach.

>>2958632
>Single Breach.

>>2958748
>I'm not sure how did you ever come to the conclusion that going outside means walking slowly
Have you ever walked on the outside of a plane while it's IN FLIGHT? Ripping winds and a constant need to check your handholds make for slow going. One wrong move and you fall to your death. And if the UFO is ascending, the air outside is getting thinner.

>>2958748
>It's obvious the outside path is the shorter one.

No it isn't.

Have you ever tried running, while the ripwind is trying to drag you off, while you can barely see and breath due to frost?

It is not fast.
Furthermore I was not saying we'd be heard, I was saying they have sensros on the ship. AKa radios, cameras, videos, etc to pic up movement and help pilot the damn thing since they have no obvious cockpit.

>>2958628
>Single Breach

Calling the vote here!

>>2958009
If bright colors aren't an issue, I can see her in some nice green, white/silver, and yellow.

Would also be good if she had an Ace Custom combat helmet.

So this is a bit annoying but I'll be busy for most of the usual runtime on Friday and I have no idea when I'll get time to write. A new thread probably isn't happening. The good news of this is that it actually works out somewhat as I wanted to finish the mission with. We're almost done after all.

Gonna try and wrap it up over the weekend and possibly test out leaving this thread on a bit longer. Who knows, I might even keep running this thread until next Friday. I doubt that but it would be interesting to see who stays around.

Hell, maybe I'll even take the week off once the mission is done and recharge my creative batteries. I really don't want to get burned out as the real cool stuff I have planned is around the corner. All up in the air. Hope that's cool with everyone!

>>2960385
It's cool, take a break if you need to. It would be nice if this mission could be wrapped up in this thread though, if we're almost done anyway. If you think of threads as story chapters, it doesn't make much sense to open up next thread with only 1 or 2 posts of mission conclusion followed by stuff back at the base for the rest of the thread, when those posts could've been the ending of previous thread.

But go for whatever solution works for you. It's your story after all.

>>2960385
Don't be afraid of taking a break, boss.

>>2960205
>>2958104

She should also try having a pinup or a custom emblem painted on one of her MEC's shoulders or on her helmet.

>>2960385
Dude, the idea of jumping onto a departing UFO was metal as fuck, then the MEC _throwing_ you on to it?

m8, if you can top that, take all the time you need.

>>2960466
Not that you need to, of course! Whatever happens, I'm enjoying the quest and thanks for running it!

>>2960385
I will miss you but I'll wait however long your break may be. I'm sure nobody will hate you for taking a break, at least I won't.

>but it would be interesting to see who stays around.
My ID may change but I'm going to sit here as long as this thread is alive and we don't have a new one. Long live browsers that can support multiple tabs!

>>2960546
Yeah I've also noticed that sometimes my ID changes even when i'm posting from the same computer as before. It might reset on computer reboot or something.

>>2960385
>Hell, maybe I'll even take the week off once the mission is done and recharge my creative batteries. I really don't want to get burned out as the real cool stuff I have planned is around the corner. All up in the air. Hope that's cool with everyone!
Go for it.

>>2960385
I'll always be around for the threads! I usually don't get to post due to conflicting time zones between us, but I've been lurking / posting since thread one!

Normally if given the opportunity in any room clearing scenario, there’s usually an appeal to breaching from multiple entry points at once. With a coordinated team you’d at least have the advantage of the defender’s attention being split and clearing the room faster, but you decide that the whole being on a flying UFO part complicates the situation.

“Single, Flash. Rachel, point. Harita, signal.” You decide quickly, calling the play simply and concisely. having to raise your voice over the wind and the sound of the UFO’s humming engines.

It honestly brings you back.

There’s a nod from Rachel as you and Harita stack one side of the holodoor while your MEC hugs the opposite. It’s more like press against really. There’s room for her to be just out of the immediate line of fire from the doorway, but it isn’t by much. She begins to rev up her autocannon. Your provided flashbang is pulled from it’s holster, shortly followed by it’s pins. You feel your body tense up, preparing itself to spring into action.

You feel Harita squeeze your shoulder, your signal to go. Starting it off, you slap your hand against the Holodoorway hard enough for the blow glowing entrance. It quickly fizzles out and you chuck your flashbang inside, towards the center of the room.

The flash goes off and Rachel’s already stomping into the cockpit, autocannon starting to belch out rounds. You can hear the defender’s plasma pounding her armor with a sizzling impact, but hopefully to little to no effect. As soon as Rachel clears the doorway you’re already moving in with Harita.

Inside there’s only three defenders left. The Sectoid surviving alien you didn’t either blast with your pistol or fall to its death, the Muton from earlier, and the ship’s Outsider Pilot. Versus them is your team, a MEC and two Assaults. Even with the Muton’s shocktrooper training and the Outsider’s unerring accuracy, on paper this should be a relatively easy clear especially with a flash having gone off. The Muton and Sectoid’s shots are erratic and wild while the Outsider’s attention is split. However, the fact you’re flying and the enemy’s pilot is at the helm immediately throws a wrench into things.

You immediately feel the UFO jerk to the side, suddenly sloping downwards towards your entrance. Your balance is tested as you feel yourself start to wobble back, your Shard Gun going wild and the gauss slugs aimed at the Outsider spraying wildly into the ceiling. Nobody hits the power source, but you note that explosive thing is there and the aliens are near it.

Harita’s moving for the Sectoid and Rachel is attempting to turn the Muton into swiss cheese. The Outsider’s your target then.

Reflexes are kicking in, every millisecond counts here!

>Run n’ Gun the Outsider! (TN 40)
>AP Grenade! It won’t damage the Power Source and could damage the other aliens! (TN 25-60)
>Taze it with the Arc Thrower! (TN 65)
>Blow up the Power Source! Sorry Vahlen! (TN 25)
>Other (TN ???)

>>2964113
>Taze it with the Arc Thrower! (TN 65)

>>2964113
>>Taze it with the Arc Thrower! (TN 65)
For Science!

Rolled 497, 881, 518, 90, 810, 998, 204, 168, 560, 114 = 4840 (10d1000)

>>2964113
>>Taze it with the Arc Thrower! (TN 65)

>>2964113
>Taze it with the Arc Thrower! (TN 65)

>>2964113
>>2964128
+1

>>2964113
>>Taze it with the Arc Thrower! (TN 65)

>>2964113
>Taze it with the Arc Thrower! (TN 65)

>>2964113
>Taze it with the Arc Thrower! (TN 65)
If that fails, then shotgun it and we'll just have to capture one another time

>>2964327
Well we have two tries and if Rachel finishes with her Muton she can also physically restrain the Outsider

Rolled 73 (1d100)

>>2964113
>Taze it with the Arc Thrower! (TN 65)

I hope I can roll at least as high as that when the rolls count

>>2964113
>Taze it with the Arc Thrower! (TN 65)

>>2964113
>>Taze it with the Arc Thrower! (TN 65)

>Meanwhile, at XCOM HQ
They did what!?

>>2964113
>>Taze it with the Arc Thrower! (TN 65)

Pls no hit the power tower

>>2965002
Haha. Everything's an action movie with Dozer

>>2964113
>Taze it with the Arc Thrower! (TN 65)

>>2964113
>Taze it with the Arc Thrower! (TN 65)
Ride the lightning, motherfucker.

Calling the vote here!

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27 KB JPG

Lat time I checked in the Mectoid was going for the Skyranger, and I come back to this...

>>2972006
It's been a lot of close calls, but no one has taken actual wound yet. Luck has been pretty good this mission, especially those two high rolls when boarding the UFO. If we bag this Outsider right here, this could be near flawless op.

>>2972050
I swear that we'll need to hang out with Rachel after this one and increase our BOND LEVEL.

>>2972213
Absolutely agree

I honestly would love to spend more quality time with most of the npcs. Ive even warmed up to Loki some, whose smug9000 attitude i didnt really like. I feel a lot of people are gonna disappointed if someone ends up winning the Dozerbowl, but even if it goes against my preferences, im gonna be chill about it.

>>2972243
As long as it isn't Harita Zzzzz

>>2972246
Harita is second best girl you philistine.

>>2972248
She's so boring. Even more boring than pre-MEC Rachel.

Maybe you just like meek girls

>>2972217
>>2972213
Still would like to spend time helping her give her suit a brand new Ace Custom paint job after this mission.

She deserved it

Maybe we can sketch a cute or sexy chibi pinup of her on the suit or autocannon?

>>2972275
Having a pinup of yourself on your vehicle is bad taste

File: 1528171794472.jpg (586 KB, 1280x725)

586 KB JPG

>>2972243
I agree, it's always nice to get some more character development for our team. Right now i feel Rook is the least developed out of the main cast, it feels like when he was a leader only times he talked to us out of mission was when fucked up and were yelled at. He's shown more interest towards Psionics than others, so who knows, maybe he's gifted and there's whole lot more interaction between him and Dozer coming.

As for Dozerbowl, i'm mostly fine with any outcome. I personally see Mommander as best girl, but i think she's bit out our league, so i'll be rooting for Rachel or Peppermint.

>>2972314
I really hope Rook is psionic. Poor guy wants it so bad.
I don't care at all about the Dozerbowl. Sure, I like some girls more than others, but I'm fine with literally whatever Dozer x Dr. Shen

>>2972333
I actually would like to see Rook's reaction if he doesn't have psionic potential. I feel his change did sth to him we have yet to see what really was

File: You might need to conside(...).jpg (77 KB, 800x569)

77 KB JPG

Going to try and make some time in a couple of hours to do another short run for a bit! Hopefully the mission can be concluded by then!

>>2972342
Depends on how well we roll next roll.

And then we have to pilot a UFO

>>2972314
Nice picture!

>>2972275
Instead of a pinup, how about the two of them make a custom patch/emblem for Strike-1 for everyone to wear?

I'm thinking of a round patch with a flaming Goat Skull (Billy the Goat) with Vigilo Confido in a ribbon lining the bottom.

Command wants an Outsider. That’s the thought that flashes through like a snapshot in your mind.

It’s one of the most dangerous capture jobs there is and for good reason. The threat level is just right up there with Thin Men or perhaps even a dreaded Chrysalid. Attempts to try and stun it even with a full squad, flashbangs, and it being the last alien have been attempted prior sure, but all have never succeeded. Maybe, just maybe, with it’s focus on currently piloting the UFO, you might have the best opening yet. Or maybe you’re just going to get blasted for your stupidity.

With your squadmate’s attention on the other aliens, you realize it’s a one on one situation. Nobody’s going to help you but your yourself. You’ll take those odds. Dashing forward, the relatively small interior of the cockpit is practically chaos as everyone battles to secure it. It’s all tuned out as the only thing that matters to you is the Outsider. Letting go of your Shard Gun, your hands are reaching for the Arc Thrower in your hand as you rush forward.

The Outsider is already reacting to you, one hand raising it’s plasma rifle up, the other still working at the controls. Besides the plasma gun trained at you, it seems wholly indifferent to the whole situation. You’ve already crossed a significant distance within the UFO, all of your FBI and Assault experience kicking in, these close quarters are prime for you. The Outsider however quickly evens the playing field. It’s piloting the craft afterall. The UFO start to jerk a bit. The Outsider is trying and throw you off balance! Worse yet, you realize it’s wanting easily line you in its plasma gun sights!

You have no idea if it’s sheer cockiness or programming in… whatever the hell you’d classify that alien. It really pisses you off. You want to tase the shit out of it. The Arc Thrower in your hand bursts to life, crackling with supercharged energies.

Here goes nothing!

>Roll 1d100+5 (TN 65)

Rolled 66 + 5 (1d100 + 5)

>>2973061
lets fucking go

Rolled 12 + 5 (1d100 + 5)

>>2973061

Rolled 45 + 5 (1d100 + 5)

>>2973061

Even with the sudden loss of balance, you’re still on a straight shot to the target. Plasma hits you, but your carapace armor takes the brunt of it, scorching it but otherwise leaving you unharmed. Really, there’s no way you wouldn’t get hit, but besides a slight bruise you’ll survive.

There’s a hair raising zap as a surge of electricity blasts out from the Arc Thrower, impacting the Outsider dead on. It drops it’s plasma rifle as electricity surges through it, the alien being’s form starts to shimmer and shake erratically. Like an image of a television quickly turning into static. It’s humanoid shape is barely held together, looking ready to wink out at any moment. And that’s a problem.

It’s not down yet!

The loss of motor control functions from the zap causes it to have an effect on the UFO. Suddenly you feel the stomach churning sensation of weight and gravity shifting and realize the room is starting to change angles. The ground is level anymore. The UFO is turning!

Frantically you look around the room and see Harita sliding down to the side before grabbing onto a console. The Sectoid slides past her, the Assault’s blade embedded in it’s gut. Meanwhile, the Muton has thrown itself onto Rachel in a desperate last struggle to stop it, but you can already see her priming her KSM, even as she starts to slide as well. Muton's likely going to get clobbered. The Outsider’s plasma gun clatters against an alien flight computer.

You’re beginning to slip towards the Outsider, as you see it trying to struggle with being coherent. Your Arc Thower still has another charge and the angle of the ship is just sliding you towards it. It’ll be an easy shot but maybe you should wait for it to correct things before you stun it again? Even while the UFO is losing control, you remember the nearly depleted Focus in your mind. Maybe you could use it to help right now? There’s a big chance you’ll pass out or worse, but everything is LITERALLY up in the air right now!

The UFO is going to start outright dropping out of the sky unless you can figure out how to make it land or hover once you eliminate the Outsider. The best news right now is that tou have the advantage in this split moment. Nobody’s shooting at you and you could decide if this UFO is crashing in the ground or somehow landing safely. You have a feeling this choice will be rather decisive for the fight.

Fun times!

>Taze it again! Get it out of the picture, now!
>Wait to see if the Outsider can stabilize the UFO before acting. Hell maybe you can figure this out!
>Just shoot it! It’ll let you wrestle with the UFO controls right away!
>Use Psionics! (Specify)
>Other