Tactical: Hack the Side Gates with Becky 'Sparks'

Becky and Sandra landed first, their feet firm but swift as they immediately dashed from the landing zone into the nearby higher ground. Just as they practiced many times before, Sandra quickly set her sniper rifle up on a perch and began scanning the premises. Becky's laptop fan whirled as it captured the battlefield layout from her Gremlin above, her back pressed against a rooftop AC unit that provided full cover. The other two pairs of boots on the ground secured the street level while you prepared your next move.

But you've seen enough battles to know the this type of preparedness and control was short lived in battle. Everything can turn to shit in a moments notice and it was your job to figure out what to do when it did. And worse, you knew today that it probably wouldn't be the Advent spinning you out of control. You're wyes nervously focused on the video feed through Sandra's scope as it greedily darted left and right, her trigger finger hungry for Advent in its sights.

You knew she would.

'Hawkeye, steady until we are all prepared.' You command directly across the all team Comms. Becky looked up from her laptop, curious for Sandra's response to that.

It was all sort of sureal to Becky, the young programmer had met many people along the way who were saved at some point by one of Sandra's legendary missions. With years of bad news from this war, Sandra was involved in some of the only celebratory moments in years. She was quasi famous with songs referencing her fame, and parties thrown in her name.

And that made it all more unbelievable that Becky's first mission with Strike Team would be in an unlikely pair with the grieving sniper. As her new partner, the green Becky 'Sparks' didnt feel comfortable filling those shoes. She looked back to her standard issue rifle and dove back into the safe distance provided by the laptop. Still, her helmet cam betrayed her trembling keys to you, a trend of typo command lines.

Your leadership instinct jumped in again, a comm directly to Becky this time: 'Listen Sparks, this is your first frontline mission but we picked you because we knew you were capable to answer the call of XCOM. Remember, you're mission is to disable the alarms and open the side door for Tornado to enter undetected. Give support fire only if we are detected. You were chosen because you were the best, we believe in you are that is why you are now XCom.' you said, confidently lying to the new soldier. That was part of your job afterall, but your truth was that you dreaded sending a rookie on a mission this important.

A recruitement to a program placed in desperation under your control. The propaganda was good, but you knew the facts weren't in your favor. News from last week's South African VIP rescue will be declassified soon and when it did, the last few friends you in Central may abandon the project. The **** of the our final fourth veteran left us a political hot rail to touch, not worth the burn anymore. You need this mission done right if you had any chance with Central. And thats when the battle started.

'I got sights!' Sandra confirmed, lining up the scope on a single Advent Officer. 'Let me take the shot Commander!' she said, her heartbeat monitor spiking. Becky peered around the AC, making nervous visual contact as she added, "Alarm is still active, I haven't yet -"

The battle hardened senior Sandra interrupted, "He's an Officer, we take him down and that will disable all reinforcements. Tornado is in place to pickup the keycard - We pop him and get in the Gene Therapy and get everyone out safe. Commander, give me the Go this is it!" she shouted, enabling her Holo Sight to account for wind and ensure a headahot.

Becky wondered, would an Officer really be out in the field alone? But Sandra knew the enemy best and if reinforcments were disabled the experienced team could clear the small set of on duty guards without much threat.