February 3, 1999, 15:02:40 hours - Know Peace, Our Friend

The all-too familiar wail of the Outbound Assault Alert siren rallies the squad to readiness. Commander LUEshi delivers the briefing this time.

"Interceptor 1, on patrol in Africa, picked up an alien craft on it's scanners and promptly shot it down. This'll be a long trip...but use that time to familiarize yourselves with the feel of the new Efreet Laser Assault Rifle that R&D has completed. Additionally, keep in mind that this one ain't no walk in the farm. You'll be fighting in deep jungle, so be sure to keep an eye on your surroundings. Good luck, men. Dismissed."

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The Skyranger touched down without the usual thump this time, partially attributed to the soft, spongy ground that the squad stepped out upon. As they fanned out, mokujin spotted a sectoid making his way toward the Skyranger, and quickly snapped off several blasts from his laser pistol (the only member of the squad to shun the new rifles for the more compact, and arguably faster, pistol). Unfortunately, the laser burst did little more than startle the creature, which quickly brought it's own weapon to bear. Grammar Police quickly followed with a burst of his own from his new laser rifle, scoring a glancing hit on the thing's arm. That hit saved mokujin's life, sending the ensuing plasma bolt careening into the ground at his feet, rather than straight through his chest. Haunted, emerging from the other side of the Skyranger's landing ramp, finished the thing off with a single burst to the skull.

The team fanned out carefully. They never expected the plasma blast from the Sectoid that had concealed itself amongst the flames of the UFO wreckage, seemingly ignoring the burning rubble for a chance at killing one of their most hated enemies. No amount of caution could have prevented what happened next.

Whatever grief The Haunted may have been carrying over the death of Negative was now trivial. The Haunted fell, stunned beyond the comprehension needed to scream, as a plasma bolt bored its way through his heart. He was dead before he hit the ground.

Screaming in outrage at the vile creature, ConkerTheHedgehog ripped a HE-pak from his belt and hurled it at the creature. The sectoid saw it coming and tried to dive clear, but the heat of the flames detonated the grenade before the priming powder could do the work, and pieces of sectoid corpse showered the area.

A sweep of the area showed that there were only two creatures manning the small craft. Although Skyranger settled comfortably back into Hangar Alpha later that day, the squad could hardly call it a victory.

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At The Haunted's funeral service, Commander LUEshi consigned his ashes to the Atlantic, saying nothing except, "Know peace, our friend. And know that nobody held you at fault."

SUCCESS(?)
Aliens Killed - 2
Corpses Recovered - 2
X-COM Operatives Killed - 1 (The Haunted)

Total Mission Kills (All Missions):
The Grammar Police01 - 4
Crazy Howard Dean - 1
primetime8880 - 4
ConkerTheHedgehog - 3
Polaris - 2
(The Haunted) - 2 lifetime

RESERVES CALLED TO ACTIVE DUTY:
"Sixty"





-----> Chapter 7 - Overnight Camping Trip With Alien Scum