XCOM 2 SG - It Continues?

[Dreylin]

Yeeeeeeah, so we're on the clock...

[Jowy]

Yeeeeeeah, so we're on the clock...

Whoa. We were nowhere near when I played! How close are we to a facility?

[WarriorKnight]

Yeeeeeeah, so we're on the clock...

Whoa. We were nowhere near when I played! How close are we to a facility?

Quite close IIRC. There's one in Western US, and we can make contact there right now. We don't have any intel though which is why I researched the Datapad, and we have another data cache we can research if necessary. Plus we will soon have the skulljack for the codex event too.

Kinda surprised the clock started already though. Did the new construction dark event kick in?

[Dreylin]

Base Management:

Jowy models our new armour (which used up all our Supplies):


Avatar is well underway, with both Dark Event and new facility construction about to push it:


And then 2 pips appear out of nowhere. 

Data Pad completes with just enough Intel:


I start on the Alien Data Cache for more Intel to chase the second site.

We can now contact North America and chase the Black Site:


And this will help:


I start an ammo next (I think).

Midway through the scan we get the Supply Drop:


I ignore it for now because...


But then we get a mission:


It's an extra shot at Skulljacking the Officer and we have 13days to go, so I go for it (the Intel & Engineer will be useful as well).

Sending the A-Team because of the importance, even though "Moderate":

[Dreylin]

Mission: Half-eaten Moan (seriously WTF!?) pt1 -

So we’re on an extraction mission with the Engineer in a cell; a bit more of a pain, but at leat we get a bunch of turns to do it:


And our first pod is spotted … with an important target:


I set up with Jowy at the front, but IBT they patrol the Officer a couple of tiles out of his range.

I figure that if triggered they’ll move towards us, so I have WK take the first shot:


She misses. … the Officer runs towards us, but then ducks back inside the building ... and is still a tile out of range of Jowy.
 
I have DP101 use her pistoliero skills to take out the Lancer – and regain Concealment (joining Lewwyn, who never left). Then I try to flashbang the Officer, which also fails. I don’t want to leave anyone on overwatch for risk of accidentally killing him, so I have everyone else double move into full cover except Sareln who gives Jowy (the closest target) Aid Protocol.


Of course on their turn he pegs it away from us.

DP101 finds him again trying to hook up with this Muton/Sectoid pod on the roof (there’s a second Sectoid out of sight):


I move up behind DP101 and next turn he does indeed climb up to the roof.
 
For my first questionable decision, I decide I don't have time for another turn of slow advancing (and risking unplanned trigger), so I get the drop on them with a Faceoff barrage tagging the Officer, Muton, and one of the Sectoids.

The Sectoids & Officer hide up on the roof, but the Muton jumps down through the skylight - perfect, WK & Sareln are set up down there! WK first to shred the armour ... misses. We need to get her a Scope fitted IMO. Sareln can't take it down with one shot, so Grenades it for a chunk.

JKaen leaps up to the roof and Shotguns down the healthy Sectoid with a nifty Flank (offscreen to the left in the shot), leaving Lewwyn still in concealment on the roof and Jowy still to move:


Things are not looking too hot at this point with multiple targets still up and limited actions remaining ... but wait a minute, what's that Hack available to Jowy: 


89%'s a safe result, right? Just to make certain that Jowy is incentivised to make it, I move him up onto the roof - totally exposed - before making the attempt...

[Dreylin]

Mission: Half-eaten Moan pt2 - 

When we left our heroes(?), Colonel Jowy was about to make the most important Hack of his life. Let's see how he did, shall we:

 
Never a doubt in my mind 

With everyone's Actions refreshed, WarriorKnight finally manages to land an important hit and takes down the Muton!

Next up, this:


Landed! 


We score the minor cache, and also some Loot:


Codex hides behind the pillar.

JKaen can reach for the melee attack, but pauses on the way to toss his other Axe at the remaining Sectoid, clearing that out. Codex tanks the full hit and then splits into 2, each with just 2 health. The new clone teleports downstairs next to the dead Muton, where she is summarily killed by Sareln.

DP101 climbs to the high roof and takes a pistol shot at the original Codex but misses, leaving Lewwyn to break concealment and finish it off with a sword:


And with a successful mission completion, we adjorn to the Skyranger for tea & crumpets ...

Wait, what do you mean we've forgotten someone:


Oh right, VIP rescue; sure, we can do that too I suppose. 

Jowy drops down through the roof to get a view on the cell, and then JKaen moves to the edge of the roof and carelessly triggers this pod with an Orange move:


Jowy takes careful aim:


And shoots the Trooper through Lewwyn and the wall. DP101 moves up and nicks the Shieldbearer with her pistol, but we've kind-of left WK & Sareln behind at this point so they rush to catch up.

That leaves Lewwyn, who can't kill the Viper with either Shotgun or Sword, so instead grenades the cover so at least it has to use an Action on moving.

Or not:


It missed the Grab with first Action, but then spat and poisoned Lewwyn. Of course that means it's still out in the open, and Jowy puts the Bolt caster to good use.

Then I send Sareln's Gremiln in to cure the Poison:


Can anyone spot the problem?

Yep, Lewwyn is still standing in the middle of a cloud of Poison. Luckily, if they stand really, really still and don't breathe (for 2 turns), the poison will evaporate without reinfecting them. So they do that.

It turns out that Shields don't beat Axes:


& Pistols: 


3pods down, Codex taken out and we still have 6t to evacuate ... oh right, the VIP.

Jowy looks at the Hack options for the cell: 100% for +25 Supplies to the Region, or a 40%+ chance to reduce scanning time by 50% for a month. At this point, I think that +25 Supplies per drop is not going to make or break the campaign, but that the reduced scan time would be a real shot in the arm as we try to claw back from the brink. I go for the long shot...

...


...


...


...


Jowy goes 3for3 on his Hacks!

This is a big deal as it'll give us a chance to chase the pile of rumours as well as the next pair of Facilities!

Anyway, last stretch now; unlocking the cell triggers a reinforcement arrival; we could probably evacuate without engaging, but when you are prepared and have a full squad ready...


As you can see, only the Mech still standing, and only half health:


I give the kill to Jowy, since WK & Sareln (in picture) both have promos pending already.

And then we run off: 


Didn't take much of a look at the promos pending:


Lewwyn can be back in time for the Facility raid if we need her.

And extra Engineer, some loot & a sprinkling of Intel (with a larger chunk following on the Mission Reward screen):


I did check the Geoscape, and unfortunately killing the Codex only gets us -1pip on the Avatar project ... breathing room, but no comfort.

[Dreylin]

Sorry for the delay guys, my Internet connection / picture upload site are conspiring against this report. Will see what I can do tonight.

[Dreylin]

Argh, not cooperating. I'll keep you in suspense for now and finish the report tomorrow. Will be done in <24hrs so anyone with weekend windows can take it...

[Dp101]

It's ok, take as long as you need to. Also, in order for someone to take the save next you might need to upload it :P

[Dreylin]

It's ok, take as long as you need to. Also, in order for someone to take the save next you might need to upload it :P

Of course, but that would ruin the suspense...

Part 1 of the report has been uploaded.