XCOM: Central America
by Ian M. Crawford
In 1947 at Roswell, New Mexico, there was a rumor of a UFO crashing. A rancher told the government and the local 508th Bomb Squad. The fragments were astounding. They said that a torch could not cut any of the pieces found. In less than a week, the army came in, cleaned up the debris, and said that the whole thing was a mistake. This statement ruined a career of an officer.
In 1995, a documentary was published stating that the army had recovered an alien and done an autopsy. The documentary showed the film of the autopsy and some experts' opinions. The results: inconclusive. There are many films and games that talk about an alien war. Let's say that one of these games came true. What if in 1999 an unknown force started a global war against the world? What if ? We would need a defender, no? Well, if that certain game became true, our hero would be X-Com, the UFO Defensive Squad founded by the leaders of the world. What if?
The leader looked out at the assembled army. It was a small but effective fighting force. This was only temporary though. Their numbers increased each day. As it made its decision, the leader sent out the telepathic message. "KILL THEM". The army let out a war cry and boarded their ships. The ships streaked out into the void. Their target, Earth. If the Brain Leader had mouth, it would be grinning ear to ear. If it had ears.
The cramped Skyranger shook violently as it passed through the thunder head. The Interceptor had shot down a medium size scout. That meant about five "bugs" as the aliens were usually called by the troops. Five aliens against ten troops and a small remote controlled tank. Still, the aliens had an advantage over the troops. The squad used newly developed laser weapons. The aliens however used a type of plasma accelerator technology. And the suckers were fast and quiet. Usually you did not know where one is till it started firing. By then you were lucky to be alive.
Edgar checked his battery again, for the twentieth time. For he was a replacement soldier. Apparently, the one before him was taken by the aliens and was never found. He did not plan to be killed on his first time. The main light darkened and a sole red light came on. They were over the site. Edgar could hear the buzzing coming from the head set he wore around his neck. He stuck in over to the right position and placed the mike by his cheek. The Lieutenant started giving orders. Edgar placed the helmet over his head and pumped the gun to life. He checked his grenade and medi-kit to make sure they were secure. The Skyranger started the descend.
The ship touched down and the outer hatch opened half way. The leading soldier pumped out two smoke bombs for cover. They filed out and took a position behind something. Edgar crouched behind the landing gear. Nothing. The smoke disappeared and no shots. Smooth deployment. Edgar remembered seeing the training tapes of troops getting shot and killed on deployment. They radio squawked. "Okay people, keep it low and find a good cover. Were going in!" The troops went through the forest ducking behind trees and rocks. The craft was visible. Standing outside the craft was a small, brown, with excessively sized head, humanoid with a gun that looked too big for the alien. Apparently it knew nothing about the approaching troops.
"Fire if you can. I want several people to fire so it gets confused." Edgar brought up his rifle. The bug was out of line by a foot. Someone fired from his left, missing. The alien turned and fired in the direction. Edgar had a perfect shot. He squeezed the trigger and felt no kickback when a yellow beam jumped out of the barrel. It hit the bug in the head, killing it. His first kill. On his right he heard a scream and flash as a hidden alien shot at the Lieutenant. A limb landed ten feet away from Edgar. On it was a sleeve with the rank of Lieutenant. Two more shots and a blood curling cry came from the dying aliens small mouth.
With a hiss and a buzz, the door to the craft opened. Edgar fired multiple shots, both missing. The alien fired and the shot skimmed across his arm. He screamed as the pain and the smell of burning flesh filled his nostrils. A squaddie came to him and patched up his arm. A corporal pointed to Edgar and the troop helping him. "You two go in," the man said with extreme unjust. Too chicken to go in himself. It was no use arguing. They waited until the alien was dispatched and entered. A stench indescribable lurked in the craft. Two aliens stood at the console. Edgar took a position in a corner. The other troop aimed his gun. The alien with the gun turned and fired. The shot imploded with the troop. His body fell, beheaded. Edgar scrunched into a tight ball, hoping the alien would not see him. The alien at the console had no gun. Perfect.
Edgar unclipped his grenade and set the timer. He leveled his gun on his knee, pointing at the alien with the gun. He slipped the pin out and threw it at the console. He pulled the trigger until the gun over heated. The armed alien was hit with three out of ten shots, enough to kill it. The grenade exploded the console and the alien seated there sending shrapnel and pieces of flesh through the air. A good size piece of metal hit his leg. Edgar became surrounded by blackness as he loosed conciseness.
Edgar woke up in the base infirmary. Both his arm and his leg were bandaged. Hanging on a hook to his right was a uniform. It was his. On it was a rank of Lieutenant. Not bad for one mission. The nurse that would marry him and have his children walked in to check on him. Their children would see the end of this war, but would see the beginning of a new war against the aliens. The war filled with terror from the deep.