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

Operation Crypt Prince – April 13th,2035

Today’s assignment sees us going into East Africa. I’m joined with the usual team; Sgt Kelly, Cpl Ishikawa, and Cpl Girard. It seems that we’ve gotten a lead on a VIP for ADVENT. The Resistance is hoping we can make sure the target is dealt with. We’ll be dropped off inside Cairo. From there we’re to take out the ADVENT forces. Then, we can try to capture the VIP. If that does not work, then our orders are to kill him.

As soon as we land, Kelly takes off and takes cover at the base of the building the target is supposed to be inside of. I quickly follow her lead and take cover beside her. Through the window I spy an ADVENT officer and a mech unit. Girard and Ishikawa move up and take their places to either side of one of the doors into the building.

After we watch the two enemies continue their patrol and move away from us, Girard quietly opens the door and moves into cover behind a large desk. Not seeing anything, he moves up next to a set of internal doors. Ishikawa follows suit and takes cover on the opposite side of the door. Kelly moves along the side of the building and takes cover behind a bench. I move up to the side of the building also and take cover at the corner of an alcove.

Kelly moves into the alcove and takes cover by a window. I climb a pipe up to a second level and hide by a ladder situated between two windows. Kelly takes this opportunity to set herself into overwatch. Girard opens the door and moves into cover behind some office equipment. Ishikawa takes a shot at the mech, but his shot misses wildly. Sadly, now the enemy knows we are here.

Since stealth is out of the picture now, Kelly jumps in through the windows, shattering it, and taking cover behind some equipment. I climb up to the roof of the building and take cover along the edge of a skylight. Not seeing anything, I move on further across the roof to find a new spot to hunker down behind. Ishikawa takes cover behind a sectional couch and goes into overwatch. Girard takes cover by the door of the next room and spies an officer and mech. They both scatter trying to find cover, and Ishikawa takes a shot at the officer but again misses his shot as the officer takes cover behind a window outside the building. The mech makes its way up to the roof right by me. Kelly dashes from her position and leaps out the window right next to the officer and takes him down with her axe.

To my amazement, the mech pays no attention to me and runs across the rooftop and drops down the ground off the side of the building. I take this chance to drop down the skylight near the target. Unfortunately, also nearby is a viper and a trooper and that mech unit. I’m not in a good position, and so I make a dash for the alcove wall nearby to get into better cover. Girard comes into the room and takes cover behind a barricade. He then takes a shot at some glowing green container, and it explodes and takes out the trooper that was hiding next to it. Ishikawa moves up the corner of the room and takes a shot at the viper. He wounds it, but it’s still standing. Kelly moves along the outside of the building and takes cover to the side of the door.

The mech moves into the room and takes a shot at Girard and misses. The viper slithers up next to Ishikawa, wraps around him, and starts to squeeze the life out of him. Kelly steps out from the side of the door momentarily and fires a bolt at the mech and takes him down with one hit. I lean out the door into the hallway and fire a quick pistol blast at the viper and take him down which releases the hold on Ishikawa. Ishikawa takes a moment and reloads his cannon so he’s not left unprotected. Girard moves up the target and knocks him unconscious with the butt of his rifle. Ishikawa then makes a mad dash to the outside of the building to cover and escape route for us all with Kelly. I move to the target and pick up his unconscious body and start to head for the door.

Kelly notices a flare hit the ground and signals to us that it looks like ADVENT reinforcements are incoming. I move as quickly as I can and take cover behind a truck near the evac zone. Ishikawa takes cover behind a barricade and goes into overwatch to cover us. Girard makes a break for it to the outside of the building and takes cover behind a column. Kelly takes cover behind another column and reloads her bolt caster.

We watch the ADVENT transport land and an officer, trooper, and stun lancer emerge. As they make for cover, Ishikawa lays down fire at the officer but misses. Before the enemy can take any actions, we all quickly dash for the evac zone and escape to the Skyranger. Mission complete. Due to the constriction by the viper, Ishikawa is wounded and will spend a few days in the infirmary, but at least we all made it home.

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.



Check out My Youtube Channel Here