>>1991814
>Inspect the Laser Shotgun. Best to get as acquainted with the weapon asap.

>>1991814
>>Inspect the Laser Shotgun. Best to get as acquainted with the weapon asap.

>>1991814
>Get Babbler and Burnout up to speed, not fair if you all have the fun.

>>1991814
>>Inspect the Laser Shotgun. Best to get as acquainted with the weapon asap.

Also, if you can't chug anymore Pixel, don't push it.

File: 1500149899645.jpg (72 KB, 617x814)

72 KB JPG

>>1991842
Appreciated!

>>1991850
Forgot your trip, there.

But yeah, you're welcome.

>>1991814
>Inspect the Laser Shotgun. Best to get as acquainted with the weapon asap.

>>1991814
>>Inspect the Laser Shotgun. Best to get as acquainted with the weapon asap.

>>1991814
>>Inspect the Laser Shotgun. Best to get as acquainted with the weapon asap.

>>1991828
>>1991834
>>1991842
>>1991933
>>1991958
>>1991959
Looking at your new best friend it is, writing!

File: XCOM Armory.png (355 KB, 1036x473)

355 KB PNG

Deciding it’s best to give everyone a bit of privacy you opt to take the time to properly examine and get a feel of the laser shotgun. It’s one thing to be able to fire a few blasts in the shooting range with the weapon but it’s another to entrust it soon with your life in combat. You get to work, not wasting any precious time.

>Roll 1d20+2

Rolled 5 + 2 (1d20 + 2)

>>1992022
Let's do it.

Rolled 2 + 2 (1d20 + 2)

>>1992022

Rolled 10 (1d20)

>>1992022

Rolled 17 + 2 (1d20 + 2)

>>1992022

File: What you've all been wait(...).jpg (116 KB, 988x1200)

116 KB JPG

You had felt this surreal sense with using the laser pistol prior and having your hand in helping Dr. Shen with testing the rest of the laser weapons, but the Scatter Laser is something you are quite pleased to have the honor of getting to use. Unlike the other focused single lens of the other laser weaponry, the scatter laser is several lenses to ensure maximum beam diffusion and firepower. Each discharge of the weapon would overheat the system if was not for the… extremely convenient manual venting discharge. A good old pump action. Spare battery packs are an absolute must you note

...You have to admit, it does make you feel better of everything earlier that everything you just noted in your mind is completely legit and not some kooky sci-fi flick. It’ll probably never get old.

Admittedly, while you do feel more confident using the shotgun it’s not as well as you’d hope. Only thing left you need is proper field experience. There’s only one way to get that.

You and Rook finish kitting up and the rest of your squad make a beeline for the Skyranger, waving to a still annoyed Babbler and a forever at ease Burnout. He gives you an understanding nod and is about to say something before it is cut short as the Armorer finds out what he’s doing, again. Babbler is roped into the enraged Dutchwoman as an accomplice. It seems Babbler has no respite.

The squad makes an even hastier exit as you all flee from the fury of the Armorer.

Rook leads the way as you make your way past Mission Control and as you run past you spot that the spooks are taking their sweet time to skulk about within it… or trying to. The Commander and Bradford keep a close eye on them, the pair overseeing in the main obs platform in the room. That same ferocious and completely-done-with-everyone’s-shit attitude with the Commander is quite present and you’re pretty sure that’s what’s causing more unease among the staff. It’s certainly working on the spooks at least.

Harita nearly bumps into Loki as she is startled agains as the Commander’s gaze eyes you all. It relaxes for a fraction of a second and she merely nods. She’s fine enough with your lot. Your team exits Mission Control and enters the hangar, your Skyranger already waiting for your group.

Opting to go last with Harita for optimal deployment you wait for the others to embark, as you do so, Harita gasps and you look to where she’s looking. You spot Rachel making her way over to you with a concerned Naru attempting to lead her back towards medical. Your eyes meet and she grins at you, waving. Harita hastily shakes her head trying to wave her off. She’s clearly trying to see the squad off and send her good wishes. But Harita and Naru don't want it. You don’t see what the big deal is.

>Wave Rachel over and if need be get Naru to ease off. You would appreciate your buddy sending you off. It would help clear your mind.
>Reluctantly follow Harita and Naru’s insistence and tell Rachel to stay back. You don't like it either.
>Other

>>1992223
>>Wave Rachel over and if need be get Naru to ease off. You would appreciate your buddy sending you off. It would help clear your mind.

>>1992223
>>Wave Rachel over and if need be get Naru to ease off. You would appreciate your buddy sending you off. It would help clear your mind.

I think saying "I'm sorry" quietly will help.

>>1992223
>Wave Rachel over and if need be get Naru to ease off. You would appreciate your buddy sending you off. It would help clear your mind.

>>1992223
>Reluctantly follow Harita and Naru’s insistence and tell Rachel to stay back. You don't like it either.

I don't know, maybe listening to other people for once would be a good idea.

>>1992223
>Reluctantly follow Harita and Naru’s insistence and tell Rachel to stay back. You don't like it either

>>1992223
>Reluctantly follow Harita and Naru’s insistence and tell Rachel to stay back. You don't like it either

File: 1499708731201.png (39 KB, 446x443)

39 KB PNG

Rolled 2 (1d2)

Oh, was about to call it but it looks like it just became a tie. Going to roll it off myself!

>1. Waving Over
>2. Waving Off

>>1992381
wew

>>1992381
That's how the dice roll.

File: Rachel and Naru .png (142 KB, 980x1098)

142 KB PNG

As much as you want to chat a bit with Rachel before heading off to the mission, with everything that’s been going on you’re keen enough to read the writing on the wall. Harita and Naru seem adamant over Rachel much to your growing frustration. If it wasn’t for the scatter laser in your hands and Peppermint throwing her hat off for suddenly you would not be in the best of moods. Still, you relunctant follow after the pair and shake your head to Rachel. She stops in surprise giving you an understandable look of abject confusion. ‘Not you too’ is a good summary of her expression.

You nod in agreement, you don’t get it either! But for whatever reason it’s for the best that Rachel doesn’t get to chat with her team even if it could be any one of your last moments. Dejected and frustrated probably not fully believing you, Rachel spins around and begins heads back from their side pathway to medical once again. Equal sighs of relief from both Harita and Naru is seen. Naru gives you both a thumbs up and hurries off after Rachel while a relieved Harita pats you on the shoulder.

“Thank you for understanding, Dozer.” Harita says to you before heading up.

You didn’t. With a frustrated sigh you clamber up the ramp with Harita and board the Skyranger last. The aircraft takes to the skies and not wasting a moment speeds off for China once again leaving you all some mid-flight downtime before arriving at the AO...

>Just relax a bit. Closing your eyes and trying to clear your head could help.
>Address Harita. Ask why she was being so rude to Rachel.
>Maybe trying to speak with the squad in general may be a good idea. It’s worked with Rachel before after all.
>Other

>(Also since I forgot last time. Everyone roll 1d20 and include it in your choice. This is to account for Dozer spending time off screen to train and prepare for the next operation. If any of the first four rolls is a Natural 20, you all will be given the chance to get a Partial Crit that can only work to mitigate combat related Natural 1's to a certain degree. Let's try out this mechanic a friendly Anon suggested a few threads back!)

Rolled 3 (1d20)

>>1992484
>Address Harita. Ask why she was being so rude to Rachel.
"did i miss something"

Rolled 10 (1d20)

>>1992484
>Just relax a bit. Closing your eyes and trying to clear your head could help.

Rolled 1 (1d20)

>>1992484
>>Just relax a bit. Closing your eyes and trying to clear your head could help.

Rolled 9 (1d20)

>>1992484
>Other
What was that about?

>>1992512
...well, we're getting the 1s out of the way.

>>1992484
>Address Harita. Ask why she was being so rude to Rachel.

>>1992484
>Maybe trying to speak with the squad in general may be a good idea. It’s worked with Rachel before after all.

Let's not be an anti-social asshole

Friendly reminder that the commander's argument against reestablishing comms on the terror mission was "do you not believe in the other troopers?"

bitch the battlefield is not a place for faith and proper and prompt communication is a force multiplier and then some

I have thus determined the Commander needs to step down and let Bradford take over because he at least isn't a blathering fool. And because everyone knows Turtlenecks > Sweatervests

>>1992484
>>Address Harita. Ask why she was being so rude to Rachel.

>>1992484
>>Just relax a bit. Closing your eyes and trying to clear your head could help.
Harita certainly isnt rude on purpose.

>>1992557
The Commander's argument was "Deal with issues you know about."

We knew about the massive alien hive, we didn't know how anything else was going.

>>1992580
>not reestablishing comms

You're a shit commander too then.

>>1992609
Leaving wounded behind next to a known enemy position is a shit call too.

Guess we're all shit commanders.

>>1992616
Getting comms back up is more valuable than losing a couple of soldiers. That's a fact, jack.

>>1992628
Yes sir General Ripper sir. We should probably get ourselves killed on this mission then to accomplish the objective. Lots of warm bodies to fill our spot.

Rolled 2 (1d2)

Another tie roll it is!
>>1992496
>>1992560
>>1992538

>>1992497
>>1992512
>>1992571

>1. Relax
>2. Harita

>>1992646
welp

>>1992642
>I know, I'll use hyperbole to prove my point is superior!

Nice try but not nice enough. Everyone knows that comms can save more lives than keeping a couple wounded soldiers alive can. Especially if you can accurately track enemy movements and intel and convey it to other squads. I hope your waifus all die so you can learn your lesson.

File: Harita.png (63 KB, 530x1128)

63 KB PNG

Rolled 2 (1d2)

As much as you’d like to relax, and you were pretty conflicted with the choice, you decide to address Harita and find out what both she and Naru’s issue was with Rachel. Out of everyone you are aware that she’d still like to be a part of the team. However, given how irritable you have been you need to try and stay calm… You look across your seat to Harita, sword still resting on her lap as you clear your throat and get her attention. She looks up to you.

“Yes, Dozer?”

>Roll 1d20

Rolled 18 (1d20)

>>1992693

>>1992693
Don't mind that roll!

Rolled 8 (1d20)

>>1992693

Rolled 5 (1d20)

>>1992693

Rolled 3 (1d20)

>>1992701
>roll
PANIC

>>1992669
And "everyone" knows you never leave a squadmate behind unless you absolutely have to. Guess they aren't right all the time.

Slightly long update, almost done!

>>1992669
>Everyone knows that comms can save more lives than keeping a couple wounded soldiers alive can.
True, but an SL's position isn't supposed to be sacrificing your squad for the big picture if there are no express orders to do so. With comms jammed our priority should be to keep our team alive and complete our objectives laid out the last time we had comms with command.

And besides there were multiple ways to clear up comms without sacrificing squad members. It wasn't mutually exclusive. If anything THAT is the lesson we should take away from that.

>>1992867
>And besides there were multiple ways to clear up comms without sacrificing squad members

Not disagreeing with you, but genuinely curious what you mean by that.

File: You just don't get it..png (115 KB, 326x226)

115 KB PNG

A flash of anger hits you at how unaware Harita is over what she just did. How could she act so insensitive and not realize? She of everyone in the team is the most empathetic and kind of your group yet she doesn’t get it?

You almost blow up on her then and there and realize that maybe you might just be looking at this the wrong way. Maybe she had a reason, even if you couldn’t find it. You’ve been throttled around all day and might be jumping the gun a bit. You calm yourself down and speak to her.

“...What was that about back there, Harita?” You ask her. No accusations, no justified reactions just… an honest question. You just want to know. The others seem to be distracted as you chat, though you do catch Peppermint giving you another one of her odd looks before turning back to her weapon. Is she listening in?
“Well ah…” Harita pauses, trying to find the right words for it before leaning in a bit and lowering her voice. “...I don’t think the others need to have to worry about that right now.”

“Worry? About what? Her?” You say, trying to grasp the situation. Rachel is her own woman, she can handle herself after all. You would have expected Harita of all people in XCOM to understand that as well.

“Yes.” Harita nods dismayed. “The squad is not as… c-cohesive as before. Seeing her could’ve distracted the team. We need to focus. That and… how she is now. I-I didn’t want to do it either, but it was for the best for now. I’ll apologize to her later.”

You can sort’ve understand the first one but you don’t quite follow the last part. How she is now? Rachel is handling her situation extremely well and it’s likely only going to be a temporary one anyways in the long run, Commander’s statements notwithstanding. You figure RnD or Engineering will cook something up eventually after all. You want to press her further but she’s clearly done speaking about that and with a sigh you don’t press her further.

She does make a good point that everyone needs to focus, after all. You can deal with it later indeed.

Most of the trip is spent in relative silence as the rest of the squad psyches themselves up in their own way. From Loki quietly humming to herself (she’s not half bad) or Peppermint checking her laser sniper rifle for the nth time. As you approach the AO, you get a proper briefing from Bradford. This time around, he’s briefing all of you on the operation. Rook grunts when Central speaks up over the Skyranger’s comms.

(Part 1 / 2)

File: Hong Kong.jpg (889 KB, 1280x720)

889 KB JPG

“Alright listen up Strike-1, you’re all being sent to China to extract a member of the Triad criminal organization who has reached out to the Council. While the criminal is of low priority to us, a Council ground asset has confirmed he is in the hands of likely alien technology. We don’t know how or why they have it, but the Council believes this agent and alien activity has sprung up in the area further legitimizing the claim. Do what you have to do to extract the target, most of the area should be evacuated by now by local authorities with the aliens in play. You’ll be--”

Central doesn’t get to finish as the pilot, Dark Sky, speaks up.

“Heads up, Strike-1. IR is picking up a lot of contacts in the AO. Looks like the spook’s intel is wrong, we got a lot of civvies down there.” Dark Sky says with a grunt. “Going to have to land out of the way to not get spotted. Sorry boys and girls, you’re gonna have to hoof it.”

“Damn.” Bradford pauses… before the Commander speaks up.

“Remain concealed, revealing ourselves will do us no good. If the Civilians get killed because they stuck around with aliens in the area it's their fault. If any of you get spotted you are advised to neutralize who sees you.” The Commander says very coldly. There’s a murmur of unease to that in the Skyranger, but nobody can say no to her as she is right now. Stealth is a high priority then. “You have your orders, Strike-1. Vigilo Confido.”

“Last known on the target is a few blocks to the north at some cemetery. Can’t miss it. Good luck down there.” Dark Sky says as she begins to lower the Skyranger down.

“You know your orders team. There’s only five of us, so missions going to be tight, you know what you have to do. Get ready to move out.” Rook says, all business once again as the Skyranger touches down and you all begin to deploy and fan out as you are deposited in a large back alley area in the middle of Hong Kong. Dark Sky must be one hell of a pilot to sneak in unnoticed.

“Dozer. Ranger. Eyes and ears. Let us know what we’re walking into.” Dozer orders and with a nod Harita begins to advance ahead, darting between the shadows as you proceed as well. Rook, Peppermint, and Loki following relatively close behind. With only five in this mission it’s going to be tight.

>Stick with Harita. You’ll be able to back each other up if something goes wrong at the cost of less coverage.
>Spread out a bit. It will get a better picture for the team though you’d both be separated for a bit if something went wrong.
>Other.

>>1992897
>Stick with Harita. You’ll be able to back each other up if something goes wrong at the cost of less coverage.
Also has less chance of getting spotted by civies. Being told to "neutralize" them does not bode well.

>>1992897
>Stick with Harita. You’ll be able to back each other up if something goes wrong at the cost of less coverage.

>>1992897
>>Stick with Harita. You’ll be able to back each other up if something goes wrong at the cost of less coverage.

>>1992897
Late as fuck but Harita is a total bitch.

>>1992888
>>Stick with Harita. You’ll be able to back each other up if something goes wrong at the cost of less coverage.

>>1992936
How is Harita a bitch?

>>1992897
>>Stick with Harita. You’ll be able to back each other up if something goes wrong at the cost of less coverage.
Fucking dont spilt up

>>1992947
She blew Rachel off out of her own anxiety. She's assuming the squad will break up seeing her. She totally failed to consider that her being friendly and alive might be a moral booster to both the wounded and the others.

As it stands Rachel probably feels cast off and is being treated as an outsider. Hell squadies could now worry that it they've maimed they'll be ostracized like Rachel just was.

On a personal level from us it absolutely awful.

>>1992968
So Rachel, who literally just had her arm blown off, sneaking out of medical with Naru trying to drag her back and then coming up and acting like everything is fine wouldn't throw up all sorts of bad flags to the squad?

Plus if \we'd again treated her like she's normal (she's not) they'd look at us the same way.

You don't waste any time and follow after Harita. She is an expert in positioning and remaining concealed after all and while you are currently the most mobile of squad and have enough proficiency to be stealthy as well, you are completely not in the same ballpark as Harita is.

She is a moving shadow, re-positioning from cover to cover to darkness to cover. You focus on keeping up and now blowing your cover for both of you.

>>1992988
(What the hell, the bloody thing autoposted!)

>Roll 1d20+1

Rolled 20 + 1 (1d20 + 1)

>>1992993

>>1992983
Less so than flatly ignoring her.

>>1992993

Rolled 9 + 1 (1d20 + 1)

>>1992993

Rolled 7 + 1 (1d20 + 1)

>>1992993

File: sneeki.png (295 KB, 434x434)

295 KB PNG

>>1992994

File: operatinghard.jpg (65 KB, 960x541)

65 KB JPG

>>1992994
We operating.

File: That's XCOM Baby.png (308 KB, 558x649)

308 KB PNG

>>1992994
Nice Crit! Do you want to save it? You guys have 0 currently saved.

>Y/N

>>1993007
>Y

>>1993007
>N

>>1993007
Hmm, if the other results were better, that'd be a yes.

>N

>>1993007
>Y

>>1993007
>Y

>>1993007
N

>>1993007
>Y

>>1993007
>Y, If its actually going to be used to cancel out a crtitfail this mission.

>>1993012
>>1993015
>>1993016
>>1993020
>>1993024
Saving the Crit it is, you guys now have 1 Crit currently banked! Writing now.

File: Hong Kong City Streets.jpg (186 KB, 1000x587)

186 KB JPG

You keep up to the best of your abilities with Harita, but she simply has a second sense for this kind of stuff. Your mind wanders for a moment at what that translated to in her previous career as a Gurkha but focus on the task at hand. Eventually you come to the point where the back alleys end and the both of you find yourselves at an impasse where a road is in the way of the final approach to the cemetery. In fact you can see it from here.

However, civilians are between you and your destination and you simple just don’t understand why the civvies are still lingering here. Even if you can get not getting the memo that there’s aliens in the area. Most people don’t get much of an opportunity when the aliens hit after all. Once the aliens do hit, the place is cordoned off extremely quickly and everyone is likely dead or abducted by now. The biggest thing that gets you is that you feel it in the air, you feel the green fog lingering. That alone should unease people into staying back however these civilians however are just… wandering around. Looking at shops, buildings, and the like.

Two cars pass by down the road, one a police car and the other a nondescript van. You try and gauge the situation and then bump your leg on the set of trashcans you are ducking behind. You are grabbed and instantly dragged back against the wall with sudden force by Harita as you hear one of the civives hear this on the sidewalk.. He says something in Chinese aloud that you obviously don’t understand and you begin to sense his presence approach you both… The rest of Strike-1 is just around the corner and can’t help you without blowing their cover.

>Try and reposition. It’s going to be tight but there’s some cover to allow you and Harita to leapfrog back a bit.
>Stay put, maybe he’ll lose interest.
>Intercept him, hopefully you can knock him out.
>Other.

>>1993096
>Stay put, maybe he’ll lose interest.

>>1993096
>>Try and reposition. It’s going to be tight but there’s some cover to allow you and Harita to leapfrog back a bit.

>>1993096
>>Try and reposition. It’s going to be tight but there’s some cover to allow you and Harita to leapfrog back a bit.
We dont have smoke grenades ?

>>1993096
>Try and reposition. It’s going to be tight but there’s some cover to allow you and Harita to leapfrog back a bit.

>>1993096
>>Try and reposition. It’s going to be tight but there’s some cover to allow you and Harita to leapfrog back a bit.

>>1993133
Dude, smoke grenades aren't for sneaking, they're for obscuring when you're already spotted.

>>1993139
>they're for obscuring when you're already spotted.
Better have one ready, bc we WILL be spotted by civvies at one point.

File: XCOM Stealth.png (87 KB, 500x438)

87 KB PNG

You can't just sit here as this guy seems to be pretty persistent and the last thing you need on your mind right now is innocent blood in your hands. You tap Harita's shoulder and point to cover towards the back. She nods and after a heartbeat, you both attempt to scramble back from sight. XCOM Equipment does not make things any easier...

>Roll 1d20+1

Rolled 7 + 1 (1d20 + 1)

>>1993161

Rolled 15 + 1 (1d20 + 1)

>>1993161

Rolled 9 + 1 (1d20 + 1)

>>1993161

Rolled 10 + 1 (1d20 + 1)

>>1993161
ERE WE GO

>>1993161
>nnocent blood
there are gorillons of Chinese, and these people haave a death wish anyway, staying in the inasion zone. We're not in command anymore.

File: Hong Kong Cemetary.png (1.07 MB, 1599x735)

1.07 MB PNG

You and Harita are quick enough to move back, using the shadows and whatever bits of cover to obscure the line of sight of the civilian. He doesn’t make it easy however as for whatever reason the civilian is making an effort to really investigate the source of this sound. You even hear two more civilians enter to follow after the first one. His buddies or family maybe? You don’t get a good look at them as you’re too busy focusing on not dropping anything.

Worse yet is your glowing laser weapons, but you are able obscure that by covering the lens and lights up. Thankfully as long as you’re not pulling the trigger you’re just holding onto special glass and covering a laser light. Not only that Harita had planned for this already, the route she picked being purposefully as dark as possible and filled with as much clutter that is relatively easy to navigate to maximize stealth. She’s damn good at this. That’s not even counting the sword.

Harita quickly taps her mic comms, alerting the other team members without actually speaking a single word, a neat little trick that is able to get it’s point across as the others are able to successfully evade the wandering civilians. You sigh with relief as they continue on down the alleyway, albeit you are a bit confused by this. Obviously there is the facet where you wonder what the hell their problem was, but more importantly you suddenly have a weird feeling you can’t quite place yet over that little near disaster.

In any case you sigh with relief and Harita smiles at you in relief as well before you continue onwards. Eventually with a bit of effort you and your squad make it to the cemetery unseen. The civilians continue to linger in the area and you see the police car pass by again. Barking orders over the police car’s PA system. You manage to catch a glimpse on the original one, some guy in a red shirt hard to not miss. Hopefully they’re getting the civvies out of there finally.

Slipping into the cemetery, you note the place is much more peaceful and secluded than you had expected. Smaller as well. Rows of chinese gravestones ring around the site as two side areas lead to more grave sites. A cherry blossom tree sits at the center of the cemetery. The main pathway leading to a temple with a pair of guardian lion statues protecting it. There’s still candles and incense sticks as offerings still lingering at grave stones.

“Mmm….” Peppermint murmurs a distaste in her mouth as she walks between the stones.

“Just relax, dear.” Loki murmurs to Peppermint, shatterarray in hand, grenade launcher at her side. You don’t have to see Peppermint rolling her eyes, you can practically feel it.

Rook is about to comment but stops as you and the others spot your contact.

(Part 1 / 2)

File: Triad Contact.jpg (54 KB, 1280x720)

54 KB JPG

He emerges from the dark off to the side of the temple, a part of you expecting him to had been standing in front of the thing, back turned to you all stylish and blatantly obvious. But no, it seems the Triad has more tact than that. The man is clearly a hardened and experienced criminal at a glance and you feel your grip on your scatter laser tighten by a fraction. You may not have dealt with Chinese Triads, but you’ve dealt with criminals before and these are the ones you know to be wary of. He isn’t a mere gangbanger, he is an expert.

Dressed in a two piece brown suit and turtleneck shirt underneath, the man is rather dapper all things considered. His hair bleached white with scars all over his face showing nothing but experience. His browns eyes regard you all. He holds a suitcase in his hand, the package you would assume.

“You must be my contacts. No one who fears reprisal would make an entrance like that. And that is not counting the array of weapons and equipment at your disposal nor your nationalities… you are simply too obvious. ” The criminal comments plainly. His English is surprisingly fluent.

“Where’s the package?” Rook orders him, cutting straight to the point. He doesn’t want to deal with the criminal as much as you do. That you can both agree on thankfully enough.

He doesn’t get another word as you see the criminal’s eyes narrow as he suddenly brandishes a silenced pistol from his coat and fires with a speed and reaction time matching your squad. A single quiet plip as the bullet from the pistol falls bounces on the stone walkway. You all turn to see… a civilian collapse onto the floor, a bullet wound on his forehead. It was the civilian in the alleyway. The guy wearing the red shirt.

A heartbeat passes your team taking that split second to process what just happened.

>Tackle him. Motherfucker is going to pay for taking out a civilian!
>Draw your weapon on him. You’re not taking any chances even he did save your cover.
>Wait a moment. Something isn’t adding up here.

>>1993264
>Wait a moment. Something isn’t adding up here.

>>1993264
>>Wait a moment. Something isn’t adding up here.

>>1993264
>>Wait a moment. Something isn’t adding up here.

>>1993264
>Wait a moment. Something isn’t adding up here
>>1993264

>>1993264
>Wait a moment. Something isn’t adding up here.
Dammit Dozer is DENSE

>>1993264
>>Wait a moment. Something isn’t adding up here.

>>1993264
>Draw your weapon on him. You’re not taking any chances even he did save your cover.

>>1993264
>Wait a moment. Something isn’t adding up here.
Ask yourself why that red shirt was super persistent.

A near universal vote on DOUBT it is, writing!

File: Spoiler Image (117 KB, 2000x713)

117 KB JPG

Immediately Harita’s on him, pinning him to one of the Guardian lion statues with with her sword up to his neck. You don’t even see your fellow assault draw it she’s that fast to cross the distance. Rook approaches quickly as well not taking a moment to hesitate to disarm the pistol from the Triad’s hands. He doesn’t flinch at that.

You nearly tackle him yourself, but pause. Wait a second… something doesn’t seem right.

“You… monster!” Harita says in an angry loud whisper. She keeps herself from yelling of course, but if she could she’d be yelling at the triad having gunned down that civilian.

“If you shot any of us you would have been dead where you stand.” Rook hisses. “You’re on a thin line now. Give us the package.”

As that’s happening you can’t help but stand there running the scenario earlier again in your mind. Why the hell WAS that red shirt guy so persistent? That’s not normal. Why the hell are there even people here still? The trip to China was extremely quick on Skyranger sure, but it wasn’t instant. There’s green fog in the air, you sense it. Aliens are in the area. Why are they not attacking or dealing with the civilians? Are there thin men? Hell are the civvies all men thin men? You see Loki and Peppermint pause as well.

The Triad however seems to have an iron grip on the suitcase and Harita and Rook are quickly reaching their limit, the Nepalese Assault drawing her blade closer to his neck. You can see blood. Rook is not having any of this either. However, the Triad stands his ground, eyeing them both with steely eyes.

No, Thin Men are nearly all identically same as far as you and XCOM have dealt with. You saw men and women of varying ages wandering about. But what is it then? And why the hell is it so familiar? Then it hits you, and it seems to hit Loki as well as she lowers her weapon. It’s so obvious you can’t believe you missed it until now.

“Wait!” You whisper to them hastily, you need to stop them before they flat out murder the guy! The pair turn to you but before you can get a word in you hear a yell from the catwalk of the building adjacent to you. A woman calling out in surprise, attempting to yell out to everyone out on the street. Peppermint gasps, she gets it now as well.

You don’t hesitate as you pull out your laser pistol and fire at the woman. She takes it on the chest and collapses instantly on the catwalk, a burn on her chest similar to plasma. She dies before she even hits the metal structure. Your theory confirmed as you catch of a glimpse of what falls out of her hands and onto the street below.

(Part 1 / 2)

File: It's on.png (699 KB, 901x810)

699 KB PNG

Harita turns to that and releases the Triad from her grip her eyes wide in utter horror.

“You… you are insane! Why would you do that!?” Harita says utterly shocked. The Triad takes a step but is stopped by Rook.

“Don’t move! He was following orders!” Rook says trying to reign in the situation but not quite getting it himself given the situation. “Now what the hell is going on Dozer?”

Harita however is just stunned that you would so casually shoot that woman. It was one thing to be given the order, it’s another follow it without hesitation. Harita is a good woman and capable soldier, but not one to make accept a call like what the Commander gave.

“Harita! Listen!” You say hastily as Peppermint and Loki move to take positions in cover. “That Triad saved our asses! Those weren’t civilians! They were--”

That’s when you hear tires screech across asphalt as the police car you saw earlier screeches to a stop outside of the cemetery with the van as shouts from other ‘civilians’ begin to organize and yell out orders to each other. You lock eyes with the triad who merely nods the both of you understanding. You kick him over his pistol as it slides across the ground and he grabs in a fluid motion.
“No time to explain! Get ready for contact you two!” You should, ducking for cover as you see the civilians stream in weapons drawn in hand, pulled out from their person.

“...It seems my former employers have found me.” The Triad, no, former Triad says grimly.

You brace for contact. It looks like it’s going to be just like the good old days...

>...And with that I’m calling it here! With it being late and we didn’t get to do combat proper I feel a bit dismayed but I am admittedly dying at the keyboard here and it is really late for some folks. We’ll be picking this up next week as Dozer and the Gang plus Zhang battle a bunch of Triad gangsters and maybe more. But that’s not all! A friend of mine has written something extra to read related to the quest! Hopefully that can be so compensation for the scheduling and this cliffhanger. So, until next time…

Thanks for playing!

File: The Council.jpg (23 KB, 519x259)

23 KB JPG

>>1993360
And here is the writeup!

https://pastebin.com/j72L3XnL

>>1993360
See you next time.

>>1993366
>KGB had dossier on the Commander
My god she is old as hell.

>>1993375
>implying KGB doesn't exist anymore

>>1993380
But it doesn't.

>>1993382
That's just what they want you to think.

>>1993380
It was dissolved after the collapse of the Soviet Union and was replaced by the FSB.

>>1993382
Of course it doesn't, comrade major.

File: 1449186158155.png (553 KB, 600x622)

553 KB PNG

>>1993382
>>1993388
Haha, yes comrades, KBG is of nothing now! Please pay no attention to paranoid theorists of conspiracies

>>1993386
>>1993390
>>1993396
Fun conspiracy theories aside, it doesn't make sense to hide the existence of state intelligence and counter-intelligence agencies, because everyone knows you have them anyway.

>>1993409
It's not being hidden, it's just been rebranded.

>>1993411
That's what I'm saying. But the archives have been rebranded too. So for the Commander to be mentioned in KGB documents she would have to come into their view as a kid, or be around 50 now.

File: 1337779434646.jpg (158 KB, 640x628)

158 KB JPG

>>1993415
alright, you're technically correct - the best kind of correct

>>1993415
Or maybe the writer just fucked up and we should take the rest of what was written at face value.

>>1993425
What, and not build inane theories on how the Commander keeps her skin smooth? Unacceptable!

>>1993433
Or she could just be thirty and they had a dossier on her by the time she was five.

>>1993438
That's just more material for inane theories.

>>1993459
I got one more. The Commander is actually a clone of The Boss, brought back to end the alien threat.

>>1993462
That's not inane, that's absolutely reasonable given available information.

>>1993472
Alright, she actually *is* the Boss, brought back to life and given a face lift so nobody suspects.

>>1994269
But does she have the spooky scar

>>1996659
Only one way to find out.

>>1997859
Or she was abducted by X-rays and had horrific experiments performed on her, but the memory wipe didn't work. Now she remembers it all.

>>2016746
New thread is up!