2016 started rather uneventful. XCOM could keep the alien threat in check while desperately trying to find ways to strengthen the psionic department of the squad. 44 made slow progress and finally could also start controlling other living entities. That was a scary thought, but desperate times called for desperate measures, especially while the soldier pool was growing awfully thin on psi candidates. Megawatt, Broden or Hipster showed no psi prowess at all. And soon enough, the harvesters came. Hyperwave relay could tell the approximate numbers and different alien types, but the dirty work was again served on the squad's plate.
Hipster took the point, Ironside and Branca proved close quarter firepower, Goose and Helldorado supported and 44 watched everyone's back. The initial rush through the hangar part consisted of a few muton elites and an ethereal. The muton types the squad took out with only a little sweat and even the cyberdisc that rose to the rooftop proved no problems, but the ethereal could not be found anywhere. Back at the storage end the reason for the ethereal's disappearance was revealed: it had fled from the firefight to team up with a sectopod and a handful of mutons on the storage bay corridor.
Usually it was one good and also very effective idea, but ethereals didn't seem to be your average close combat fodder after all. Elusive and deceptive, planting seeds of doubt inside the head of anyone even observing them, also this individual made Ironside's simple task much more difficult. Ironside ended up peppering the storage bay walls and floors instead.
[TACTICAL COMMS TRANSCRIPTION]
Ironside: Jumping down, drawing heavy fire, watch the sectopod!
Goose: Flanking from the top right, in position.
44: Keeping the sectopod on the bead here.
*distorted alloy gun fire*
Ironside: *deep breath* Yes. Must be done.
[TRANSCRIPTION ENDS]
Goose popped his head from behind the wall on top of the rightmost storage bay. He could see the ethereal and the sectopod, but no mutons. Judging that the mutons must be trying to run to the sides through the bays, he paid one last look at the ethereal and noticed something else far too late. Ironside was pointing his alloy cannon straight at him from the corridor below. The alien metal payload shattered his cover completely and also tore his titan armor in half. He hit the deck more due to the force of the blast than as a result of a conscious choice. Severely, possibly gravely injured, he passed out.
Out on the hangar rooftop 44 was waiting for the big robot to appear. Even that it would need to fire blindly, the squad could not take the bombardment forever and sooner or later it also was supposed to get out to look for direct targets. Man versus machine ended up as man's victory once again as sectopod moved forward on the corridor just a little bit; enough for 44 to stop it right there.
44 switched side to get a better view on the ethereal. He shot it with his plasma pistol, but the ethereal held up. It was swaying and apparently dying, but it did not let go of Ironside. Preparing to swap location once again, 44 noticed Goose to raise his plasma rifle on the storage bay rooftop. Like in a slow motion film, Goose lifted his arms and pulled the trigger at the general direction of the ethereal, a true hail mary. The ethereal fell down, and the muton elite that had appeared next to it was at the perfect position to execute Ironside on the spot.
The muton elite shot at Ironside, point blank. Ironside's armor was all but destroyed by the blast, but he grinned through his teeth, spitting blood. Then he pulled the alloy gun trigger and killed the muton. It was over and while Goose was seriously hurt, the squad finished yet another harvest mission without casualties.
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