#ruine87

  Six days removed from the struggle in the UK and Brazil is suffering a major invasion in a major metropolitan area.  With only Dany recovering fully from the previous battle, Toby has to lead the younger recruits against what’s likely to be just as ferocious a battle as the last one.

  As the plane lands in the LZ, the squad is looking at a massive parking lot for a factory.  “Command, the hell are we looking for?”  Toby asks.  “Brazil hasn’t been able to contain the aliens.  They’re running rampant through the streets.  Proceed with extreme caution.”

  “Fucking figures.  This is what I get for taking a mission off.”    He set the squad in defensive positions in the parking lot.  “Easy does it guys, if the little shits are running rampant let’s stick close.  I’m sure we’ll hear them or something.”

  As the squad formed a perimeter, they saw squad of three jetpack aliens zoom over the fence separating the street from the parking lot.  Rayne immediately took shots from behind a parked car, wounding one.  The wounded one let out a scream and blasted away from the pack.  The squad ducked it as whizzed by overhead, breaching the perimeter.  “I got it, don’t worry guys!  Just keep focusing on the fuckers ahead!”  Toby assured them, chasing down the rogue alien.  Back outside the perimeter, one of the still healthy aliens kept a stream of laser fire directed at the car BeMess, Rayne, and Dany were behind, and the last one used this opportunity to close in on the other side since the squad wasn’t willing to risk returning fire until they found an opening. 

  Ruine, who had kept a distance from the main front, fired a sniper shot at the alien closing in.  But he couldn’t get a clear shot with the constant suppressive fire from the furthest alien.  George, who was behind a large freight truck making up the right side of the perimeter, sent a wild burst of warning rounds that forced the alien pinning the rest of the squad down into a new position further back, giving  Rayne and BeMess a chance to pop up and overwhelm the alien on the other side of their car.  With it removed, Dany was able to advance and chase down the retreating alien, ensuring the easy kill with her shotgun.

  “No time to rest!”  Dany shouted, as she ducked behind another parked car to avoid incoming plasma fire.  “Damnit, I’m pinned down!  They’ve got a Muton up here!”  A second Muton snaked between parked cars towards Dany’s position.  “Hurry!”  As it closed in, Dany saw two sectoid grunts set into defensive positions in the actual factory further ahead.  This was quickly becoming a dangerous situation.

  Toby, removed from the rest of the squad having chased down the splinter alien, ran to the opposite side of the truck George was behind.  Being too far away to get a clear shot, he lobbed a grenade into the bed of the truck the approaching Muton was poised behind.  It exploded, but the thing was tough.  “That truck’s gonna blow!”  He warned.  Dany was in a dangerous position.  “Hell, the car I’M behind is gonna blow if it takes more damage.”  She’d noticed the engine was starting to catch fire, likely ignited from the constant barrage of plasma fire from the Muton further back.  She sure as hell couldn’t move safely either though. 

  “You say that truck’s about to blow?”  George asked.  He moved to the car where Rayne and BeMess were guarding and then chucked a grenade towards the wounded Muton behind the flaming truck.  The grenade’s explosion also set off the truck’s explosion in a giant fiery chain reaction, shredding the alien with shrapnel and scorching it to death.  Rayne took this time to fire at the alien suppressing Dany, missing the alien but giving Dany a chance to get away from the flaming deathtrap that would not only blow up in her face but leave her with little cover.  The Muton and one of the sectoids fired at her as she retreated to the truck in front of George, Rayne and BeMess but neither were able to hit as Dany quickly booked it back.  Some of the stray shots hit the freight truck Ruine was crouched behind, causing the cab to explode.  Ruine was rocked by the explosion, and struggled to get back up.   

  BeMess moved a little closer and busted out the rear window of the car she was behind.  She then fired a few pistol shots through the opening and managed to kill the sectoid that caused the explosion.  The remaining Sectoid ran back inside the building, narrowly avoiding another explosion as his car blew apart.  The Muton likewise retreated out of view as his truck burst into flames.

  “Cars making fucking terrible cover.”  Toby said as he rushed over to Ruine.  Ruine was already grimacing as he touched the raw flesh burn on his cheek.  “Relax, buddy,” Toby said in an unusually comforting tone.  “Stay back, we’ll take charge from here.”

  He then moved to one of the few remaining cars near the LZ, and signaled for Rayne to take cover behind the charred truck he and George had bombarded with grenades earlier.  She did so as Dany moved back to the vehicle she’d originally had to abandon before it was about to explode.  From behind it’s twisted frame she fired a laser pistol round at the Muton, but missed because she had to dodge a reaction shot from it at the same time.  Rayne then unloaded the rest of her clip into it, dealing massive damage.  George rushed next to Dany and was able to pick off the wounded alien. 

  There was a general silence as the rest of the squad began to adjust the perimeter.  They knew the Sectoid was luring them into the building, so they set up a defensive guard stretching the parking lot and facing the building.  “Everyone reload, let’s be gentle about this,” Toby instructed, gently opening up the door so as to avoid detection.  The inside of the factory was actually a reception area, and Toby couldn’t see anything in the lobby.  Dany moved to the opposite side of the doorway, and Ruine made his way (with difficulty) to the car parked outside the door. 

  BeMess noticed the Sectoid sneaking its way to the main lobby, and fired her sniper at it.  The bullet pierced the window and blew its brains right out.  The noise, however, alerted two more Mutons who’d been waiting inside the building.  They rushed out to see what was the matter.  Toby, Ruine, and Dany all let loose with defensive fire from the doorway, shattering the next double door set separating the lobby from the rest of the factory.  But the Mutons were protected briefly by those doors and scattered before any of them could be touched.  One ran into the left side where the Sectoids had been flitting in and out of during the firefight, and the other ran deeper into the factory.

  BeMess took another shot at the Muton, who’d taken cover where she’d sniped the Sectoid, but this one was alert and shifted position right before she made the shot.  George was able to wound it from his position, and Dany left her post by the door to get closer to the window.  She let loose a shotgun spray that sent the alien reeling; but it was still alive, and pissed.  “How do they take so much punishment?!”  She screamed.  Rayne moved to the truck George was behind and finally put the beast down.  “Not bad, team, but there’s more inside,”  Toby warned as he slowly made his way into the lobby.  He got a good look at the room the rest of the squad had been firing into.  It was an office area, not part of the actual factory.  Computers lay dormant on desks, and filing cabinets lined the wall.  As he surveyed the area, a back door burst open and another Muton rushed out and fired at George, managing to hit from all the way across the room.  “SHIT I didn’t think there were MORE!”  he gasped.  “I’m fine, don’t worry guys.”

  “Oh, I’m not worried,” Toby muttered as he whipped out a rocket launcher.  He let the rocket fly across the office, hitting a cubicle the Muton was behind.  The cheap walls of the cubicle did nothing to stop the explosion from ravaging part of the office and severely wounding the Muton.  George took the opportunity to advance unnoticed to the window and unleash a wide spray into the room.  With all the cover decimated, the Muton had nowhere to run and was mowed down as it tried. 

  “Be wary of that back room,”  George warned, wincing as his shoulder throbbed.  BeMess, Rayne, and Dany rushed into the building, quickly securing what was left of the office area.  Ruine kept his distance with George outside.

  “Now where the hell is that last one…” Toby wondered, gently pushing open the door.  He went unnoticed, and he was looking into a warehouse stockroom.  “How fucking creepy.  I saw it run into here.  Be careful guys, it could be anywhere.”  Dany made her way from the office area into the warehouse, trying to trace the steps of the Muton that had split into here.  “It’s too dark… there’s no power at all.  I can’t see jack shit.” 

  BeMess waited by the door for Dany, trailing her with her sniper scope.  George rushed next to her, but had to stop to catch his breath and let his shoulder rest a bit.  Rayne cautiously advanced to the back room and checked inside.  It was just a small storage space, with nothing more inside.  “That thing really was just waiting to ambush us… they’re using advanced tactics, be-“

  A Muton fell right in front of Toby.  There was a small awning over the door Toby had opened, and the Muton had been waiting there.  It fired its heavy plasma rifle right into Toby’s chestplate, knocking him down in surprise. 

“TOBY!”  Dany shouted, hearing the noise.  “OH GOD ARE YOU HURT!”  But Toby didn’t answer.  From his position on the ground, he unleashed a hail of bullets into the Muton.  It roared in agony, and Toby got up in a sprint and dashed past it.  Ruine, seeing Toby clear the lobby, threw a grenade into the room, filling the whole reception area with an explosion that blew apart the walls.  Large parts of the ceiling fell on top of the Muton, pinning it to the ground as it reeled from the explosion.  Dany made her way to the pile as the Muton flung debris off itself.  She let loose a large electric blast, and the Muton couldn’t reach its gun under the mess.  It slumped over, completely stunned.  “I think it’s time we take one of these back for a proper analysis.”

  An African general’s convoy was overtaken by an alien assault while traveling over a suspended bridge.  He’s okay, but needs an escort to the emergency evac ship since he’s such a high profile target.  Which means this might be one hell of a tough mission. 

  We spread out onto a safe stretch of highway.  Ruined cars and bits of concrete litter the way.  Plenty of cover, but advancing could be tough if there are recon scouts from the alien forces looking for the general.  We reach a soldier left behind and he tells us if we can reach the general his men can escort us.  The general however is much further down the bridge trying to save some of his men. 

  The squad advances cautiously.  Once everyone’s in position, Caariosuma throws one of her recon scanning devices very far down the street.  A moment of silence, and then four thin men appear on the camera, two on either side of the highway.  “Should be far enough for us to keep them divided…” Chozo muttered.  Caariosuma held up her hand in caution.  “Careful, they’re in defensive positions.  No way you’ll be able to get in firing range without startling them.”  “Aretmis, get over and help me then.” 

  Chozo snuck ahead, keeping his head low and darting behind cars.  There was a large red van parked so that it took up two lanes, and Chozo made his way to the hood of the car which faced the right side.  He peeked his head over, causing the thin men to immediately dart out of cover.  But Artemis, who had made her way an overturned truck on the far right, blasted one with laser fire, melting it instantly.  Chozo did the same to its partner. 

  Toby and Caariosuma started working towards the left side.  Unfortunately, the bridge had sunken heavily in certain segments, and the two thin men were standing dozens of feet below them.  The squad had their positions, but they weren’t able to fire on them without advancing.  “We’ll see if we can’t get the jump on them guys, you all keep on heading to the general.”  Toby told Chozo.  Everyone followed Chozo’s lead, with Rayne and Ruine hunkering down beside Artemis on the right as Chozo continued heading down the center past Caariosuma and Toby.

  As Chozo approached, one Thin Man shot a venomous cloud at Chozo.  He started gasping as the fumes entered his body.  Caariosuma took this opportunity to line up a shot as the second Thin Man immediately retreated further back.  She killed the one that shot the cloud, but the other one was running too far. 

  “Fuckin… not today,” Chozo choked out as he stepped out of the cloud obscuring his vision.  Eyes stinging from the mist, he still was able to spot the Thin Man making a sloppy retreat.  “Rookie, get up here and get him!  Artemis, get me an anti-toxin spray.”  Rayne rushed behind an open car door and fired her rifle at the retreating Thin Man.  He was a fair distance away, but from the elevation she was at it was an easy shot and the alien dropped to the ground in an explosion of toxic fluids.  She brushed the hair from her face and looked smugly at Chozo, who nodded his approval as Artemis applied her treatment to him.  Toby hustled over to the right side, as it turned out the left side was inaccessible due to massive gaps in the bridge from explosions or tremors. 

  Chozo shuffled down a concrete slab that made a makeshift ramp between the lowered segment of the bridge.  He met up with the general, who reported that none of his men made it with the exception of the one they’d seen earlier.  But two Thin Men saw Chozo make his way down the ramp, and leapt to a much higher stretch of bridge that hadn’t been lowered further back.  “Shit, they’re going to be hard to hit from back here!  General, stay in cover!”

  Caariosuma came running from the far left to a fallen concrete block on the lip of the dip in the bridge.  “No time to line up a shot!” She gasped, catching her breath as she knelt down.  “Someone get over here!”  Rayne was already on her way before Caariosuma had even finished her sentence, and took a crackshot from across the wide chasm.  Surprisingly, the Thin Man erupted into a poison mist, signifying its death.  “Hell of a shot, Rayne!”  Chozo said as he blasted a laser through the window of the SUV the general had been hiding behind.  Rayne giggled quietly as she reloaded her weapon.  “Get out of here!”  Chozo told the general as the last Thin Man in sight burst open. 

  The general scurried up the concrete slab back to the squad.  Toby raised his hand to his brow in salute.  He then lowered it and screamed to his squad “back this god damn hero up!  Fan out, take defensive positions!’’ He yelled, blasting his heavy assault rifle at a thin man who fell from the sky only fifty feet away.    Everyone started making their way back to the LZ, but there was a decent stretch of highway between them.