Finally, the research finished, giving me access to Nano-Fiber Vests, which I bought four of and promptly forgot to equip to anyone.

I decided the next step was to research weapon upgrades, as the first one gives an aim upgrade which goes well with snipers because it roughly cancels out the overwatch penalty.

A new alert comes in. A UFO has been sighted over Nigeria. That’s the second time in three alerts. Maybe I should just leave a squad there on constant watch.

I launch an interceptor, which takes the UFO down while only sustaining minor damage.

Eric still hasn’t recovered so Rk. Butt will have to try not to die. She has a helmet to keep her face pretty, though.

Besides, it’s only the first UFO. This should be pretty easy, actually.I still have 3 people with classes. I’m particularly happy I got my sniper beforehand.

Like most UFO missions, this one takes place in a wooded area. This means there’s a lot of destructible cover, but at least nothing that will explode in a soldier’s face.

The main risk is being flanked, since there’s ledges to the sides. Wait, ledges? Yay for snipers!

My squad moves forward, taking cover behind foliage as the wreckage comes into view. Four sectoids wander out through a hull in the ship’s side.

Ellie and the recruit both take shots but fail to injure any of them. The sectoids fall back, taking cover behind some rocks.

The squad take a few hits, but two of the sectoids are taken down. The last two bunch together behind some cover and somehow manage to avoid every attack made at them.

Rk. Butt sees an opening and lobs a grenade, killing both and securing her promotion.

The troops advance toward the broken hull, but as they approach the console, a strange creature forms seemingly out of thin air.

This is an outsider, a being made out of pure energy. Such a creature should be impossible, from our understanding of physics and how stuff works. There’s only one logical response.

Rk. Butt runs forward as Barmy marks the target with his pistol.

Lining up the shot, she empties her clip into the creature, destroying it completely.

Mission success!

Barmy and Ellie were both promoted to corporal, and Rk. Butt became Sq. Butt, a new heavy. More rockets? I’m fine with that, I can use them to blow up Chrysalids when they eventually become a thing.

Nick and Ellie are both wounded for about a week, and Eric still hasn’t completely recovered. I think I need another new recruit.

Maybe this time I’ll remember to equip the vests.