X-Com's Finest (An X-Com 2 play through)

Operation Dragon Shield

Corbin tossed a trio of folders onto the Commander's desk with a slightly smug smile. The Commander paused and looked up with annoyance waiting for the explanation for the interruption. After a second's pause for dramatic effect, Corbin broke the silence, "Intel briefings. This is what the aliens are up to...and THIS is what we can do to stop them."

The Commander pushed aside his important project. Apparently today's Sudoku would have to wait. He sat back on his chair and began reviewing the projects. As he began reviewing the information he glanced up at Corbin. "Have you reviewed these yet?"

"I have."

"And?"

It was at this point Gill walked in. She was a pickup the team had run into some time ago, and somehow hadn't been able to lose, though not for lack of trying. "Whatcha doing?"

The Commander sighed. "Reviewing targets for our next mission."

"Ooooo, pretty pictures!"

"Commander, It's a matter of risk-reward. We have a couple of missions there that would gain us some additional personnel and we really could use another scientist. We also could.."

"Is this near a beach?"

Corbin continued, "..we also could use the additional supplies, which we are running dangerously low on but the danger on that mission could make it not worth the effort."

"What are we preventing?"

"Is this near a beach? I could really work on my tan. You guys are always so bang, bang, shoot, shoot here. It's like *SO* tiring."

Corbin ignored her, "This one here would deal a blow at the alien detection. Not really that big of thing. This one here would prevent being hunted by UFO hunters. Again, not that big of thing – yet? We've never run into that problem before so, we're unsure what this means. I'm guessing it's not good. However, this last one here would give allow us to detect the sandman easier and prevent them from showing up on more missions."

It was at this time that Ranger Van Dyke had been walking by and overheard the discussion. He wasted no time barging in. "Preventing Sandman? No discussion. That's the one we're taking. I'm not going to end up having to watch my back on every SINGLE mission for these blasted sandmen!"

"YEAH! SAND! BEACH!"

The Commander looked around, "Since when did this become a democracy? And more importantly, why is everyone in MY PERSONAL OFFICE!"

Corbin looked over at the Ranger, "It's in the heart of alien territory, it could get ugly."

"Not an issue. That's the mission we're taking. Go ahead and assemble a team."

"I'll get my towel!"

Corbin shut the folder, and began to stand up.

"Uh...HELLO! I'm the Commander here. Do I get a say here?!?"

Corbin, Van Dyke, and Gill all looked up at the Commander for just a brief second before Corbin looked back at Van Dyke, "I'll collect the team, you'll depart at 14:30."

The Commander sighed and pushed the folders aside. Apparently Sudoku wasn't out of the cards for today.

***
"WHERE ARE MY AXES?!?"

Svagerko jerked awake as the Ranger yelled at her, inches from her face. Now the Ranger wasn't exactly the most pleasant person most of the time, but having to wake up to his tirades was just plain out annoying.

Rubbing the sleep out of her eyes, she shot back, "Have you checked your locker?"

"I left them in the training room when I left, and when I got back, they were NOT there! YOU were the last one to have been in there. SO WHERE ARE THEY!"