What follows is a journal written by one of the operatives in the second XCOM campaign, Alan Robertson.

Operation Forgotten Hammer – May 26,2035 – Part 1

Today’s mission brings us to East Africa. We’ve gotten word of a VIP, Dr. Hao Peng, being held by ADVENT. Our job is to break in, free the VIP Engineer, and eliminate all resistance. Our lineup today includes myself (Lt. Robertson), Lt. Ishikawa, Cpl. Kabosky, Cpl. iD35TROYu, and Sq. Schulz.

I’m trying out a new piece of gear that Shen and her crew cooked up. They call it a Spider Suit. It’s lightweight armor that allows me better maneuverability to dodge and includes a grappling cable attached that allows me to easily reach higher ground to gain the advantage in sniping.

The Skyranger drops us some ways from where the VIP is being held. iD35TROYu starts us off by quickly moving up into cover. Not seeing any ADVENT in the area, he continues even further and into another set of cover behind a barricade on the street. Ishikawa goes next and sprints to cover behind a streetlamp across the street from iD35TROYu. He spies a sectoid and muton off to his left on the side of the building the VIP is in, but he is still out of their view. Kabosky moves into cover behind an abandoned truck in the middle of the street. Schulz goes into cover behind a mailbox near Ishikawa. I bring up the rear and take cover behind a barricade adjacent to the streetlamp.

We sit and watch as the two aliens move right towards us. No more time for maneuvering, we’re going to have to go at this now or risk them spotting us right now. iD35TROYu is the furthest away. So, the rest of us going into overwatch and let him start the show. Trying to maintain an advantage, he pulls out one of his axes and throws it at the muton. The creature’s armor absorbs some of the blow, but I still see the blade cut deep. Now that they know where we are, they scramble for cover, and that’s when we are glad we went into overwatch to get those reactionary shots. Ishikawa nails the sectoid with a blast from his cannon as I fire at the muton and finish him off. Meanwhile, Kabosky hits the sectoid in the back with cannon fire and drops him. With no enemies in sight, iD35TROYu moves up and recovers some crystal the sectoid dropped.

iD35TROYu crashes through the window of the building and takes cover at the end of a long couch in sight of the door leading to where the VIP is. Ishikawa moves up and takes cover by another window on the building. Kabosky moves in and takes cover behind a section at the other end of the couch. Schulz busts in through the other window and moves through the door and into cover on the corner of the cell that the VIP is in. To keep an eye out for any incoming ADVENT or reinforcements, I climb to the roof of the building and take cover behind an AC unit. I’m guessing that was their plan too, as when I round a corner on the first floor roof I spot a stun lancer and officer. They spot me too and their rifles follow me as I finish heading into cover. Having their positions revealed, they scurry for cover themselves. The stun lancer moves behind a smaller electrical unit just down from me, and the officer drops down the skylight into the same room as Schulz. Not able to do much else, iD35TROYu goes into overwatch in case they burst into the main lobby room.

iD35TROYu’s overwatch pays off as the officer dashes for cover in the room with Schulz and moves past the doorway, allowing iD35TROYu a shot. He takes full advantage of it and takes down the officer with one shot from his bolt caster. The stun lancer rushes up and jabs me in the gut with his stun baton, and I feel the jolts of electricity arc through my body, but I’m still standing.

<To Be Continued…>

Author Heath Markley

I have been an avid gamer for 32 years now. It started with the Atari 2600 my parents bought me as a child (my mom still says she regrets that decision), and I have never looked back. For my gaming, I enjoy RPG and strategy games the most, but I will play almost all games. Besides gaming, I am a family man (beautiful wife and three wonderful children) and a healthcare IT professional. So, gaming time is a premium for me, but I make the most of every chance I get.