The XCOM Project

The Use of Weapons

"Why are they doing this?" asked Morozova.

"What do you mean?" responded Suleiman.

"Taking humans. It seems so... cliche."

"If I had an answer, I'd be an analyst," responded Suleiman, hefting her rifle. "I see they gave you new gear."

"Yes," responded the Ukrainian, smiling and rechecking the rocket launcher at her side. "You're looking happier with that new rifle as well."

Suleiman smiled and polished an imaginary piece of dirt or dust off the stock. "It's not new. I've just kept him in good shape."

"Say again?" asked Rahman.

"Wasn't referring to you," responded the elder warrior. "He's a nice man, better than any other I've met. My best friend on many a long patrol." With a pointed look to Tareq, she said, "Doesn't talk back, or at all." Clark gave a weak laugh at that. There was silence in the Skyranger for a moment.

"So," began Z from the pilot's seat, "anyone know why I'm flying over Russia in the middle of the night? Isn't Dragon Team supposed to cover Asia?"

"I heard Dragon took heavy casualties extracting this astronomer, because they were attacked by aliens that looked human," answered Rahman. "We won't be fooled."

"Maybe, but I also heard the Commander wanted us extra careful on this op. Japan has a pretty dense infosphere," said Morozova. "I hope they manage to contain gawkers."

"Why does it matter?" yelled Rahman. "We go in to kill the aliens, and that ought to be enough for you!"

"If you would take a moment to read your intelligence briefs, you would know that our orders are to try to keep ourselves out of the public eye. If you knew a thing about the world, you would know that Japan has one of the highest densities of information-technology in the world."

"You don't have to explain things to me..."

"Both of you, can it!" yelled Aya, physically interposing herself between them. "We've got enemies, and they're out there, not in here."

"All right. Looks like the aliens have shut down this overpass," announced Z. "Lock and load, Pheonix Team!"

They dropped onto the pavement, dashing to cover behind the abandoned vehicles. Morozova reached out to check on the victims inside their glassy webs. Dead again. She unleashed a hail of rounds against the first alien she saw. She could hear and feel the battle going on around her, sense Rahman charging about, taking his shotgun to the greys, smell the cordite as Suleiman and Clark took potshots at the aliens. She didn't care.

"Focus, Morozova. You can't nod off in battle like that!" She shook her head to realize that a xeno had managed to hit Suleiman. She raised her weapon, but Clark got in the killing shot. Morozova could her limp when Clark applied burn foam to the wound.

"Shut up, Rahman!" she said, advancing down the street into the shelter of a pickup. Another host of the tiny greys were skittering about. Suleiman managed to take one of their heads off despite her injuries.

"I'm coming over there! I've got to flank them!" he yelled back.

"No you're not!" she yelled. They were clustered around a vehicle, and as Natalia unfolded the expendable rocket launcher, she felt the calm of mechanical, rehearsed motion go through her. As she checked the sights and drop indicator, she knew where the device would fall. Her aim adjusted itself, and she depressed the trigger. She could see Rahman dive for cover as the missile sailed over his head, and could feel the blast wave as it impacted against the side of the truck, turning the aliens into an expanding cloud of paste mixed with large amounts of shrapnel.

"What the hell was that!" yelled Rahman.

"Me doing my job," she said, tossing away the expended missile housing and breathing a sigh of relief. She'd leave cleanup to gather it up for her. The aliens could be beaten, and she would do it.