Amid the floating debris around Mars were hundreds of burned out hulls that were once part of the giant Behemoth Class Battlecruisers. The level of destruction was so large that telescopes on Earth could even see them in orbit. Humanity would have to be told what had happened sooner or later. But the ending of what they would be told still was to be written.

"Colonel Torban, we have a problem here." "Report." "Ma'am, our engines aren't working as well as they should. I think we pushed them too hard getting here. We'll need to shutdown completely and wait at least 30 minutes for them too cool down. The other carrier will have to do so as well." "Don't we have engine coolant?" "Yes we do, but these engines are 100% new. No amount of coolant will stop them from overheating if we push them too hard before they get broken in. Remember, these engines aren't exactly standard NASA issue. They're a hi-tech human/alien hybrid technology. We should consider this mission as a trial run." "Understood, open a channel to Commander Thompson." "Channel open, but we're not getting any response from him." "Damn, they must have already gone around to the other side of Mars. They will be expecting us to provide air support with our Spacestorm craft. Captain Harrison, inform the chief engineers on both carriers that we have to get underway as soon as possible." "Aye Colonel Torban."

Avenger-1 began its descent into the "atmosphere" of Mars. Atmosphere was almost too strong of word to use in this case. Mars's atmosphere was little more than nitrogen and carbon dioxide, and it was thinner than that of the highest mountain peak on Earth. Thompson looked on the sensor screen and saw a vast array of pyramids and a geologic formation that resembled a human face.

"Captain Faerber, take us down 2 miles away from the beginning of those pyramids." He looked over to Kimall, and he got a nod from him. "That should be the safest place to land and closest to the entrance to the underground city." "Yes sir, beginning final descent."

Their craft bucked a little due to "turbulence", but it was of hardly any concern. Uta landed them in a crater just outside the main pyramid array. Kimall knew this area well. He had seen it many times from space when he still served aboard the Battlecruisers. He also knew that the Sectoids would be coming for the rest of X-Com shortly.

"This is Captain Krause. Once we are landed, I want Power Suit helmets on and airtight. Remember, if you are exposed to the air up here, you die. Mars is more deadly to you than the toids or snakemen are. We should meet with heavy resistance as we disembark, so fight like you've never fought before. We have to buy Commander Thompson enough time to kill the Master. If that means we give our lives, then so be it. Today, we're fighting for our right to exist. Now, let's kick some alien ass!" Krause heard a loud, deafening cheer from his troops, and he turned down the volume in his headset. Avenger-2 and the rest of the invasion force started their landing procedures in the heart of the Martian pyramids. Suddenly, plasma bolts rocked Krause's vessel.

"Damnit, they're already down there. Where the hell are those Spacestorms? We need them to help us take out these guys." Another hot bolt of green plasma impacted on the tough hull of Avenger-2. "Sir, their plasmas aren't causing too much damage. It's just rifle and pistol fire. They won't be able to penetrate our hull." "Understood, continue landing procedure." Krause turned to look out the window just as Avenger-3 was hit with a huge plasma bolt. Their port engine nacelle exploded with the impact and it sent it spiraling into Avenger-2. Krause's ship jarred with the collision and it threw him off his feet. "Jesus, that blast came from the pyramids! They must have some kind of anti-spacecraft plasma cannons in them. We have to land now! Every pilot, I want you to make an emergency landing right now. Cut your anti-gravity Z engine." The Avengers violently stopped dove at a steep angle downward and crashed into the Martian soil. Although not a very large crash considering Mars's weak gravity, but it was enough to knock a few soldiers unconscious. Krause gathered himself and looked onto the sensor panel. Avenger-2 had sustained only minor damage. "Good, we have some damage to the landing gear and hull integrity is down to 75%. Other than that, all systems are operating." The Avengers automatically straightened themselves using auto-equalization technology given to them by Koras Kimall. It looked like they had all landed perfectly. Plasma beams from the ground troops impacted the hulls of the mighty vessels. The rotating plasma cannon began to return fire. "Sergeant Edwards, report." "Captain Krause, I'm detecting approximately 3000 ground troops out there, most of which are advancing on our position. All Avengers are present and most did not sustain critical damage. Our plasma cannons can take out some of the aliens, but with their numbers, I don't see us defeating them all." "We won't have to, when Commander Thompson disables their psionic links, the aliens will all turn on the Sectoids, and we can go home." Krause turned to look at his squad of X-Com soldiers. He readied his weapon, and he gave the order for disembarking. The ground battle had begun.

Thompson, Mederow, Kimall, and Faerber quickly exited Avenger-1 and headed for the human face rock formation. Kimall said that there was an elevator system there that would take them directly to the Master's location. Mederow looked around at the stark, desolate desert of Mars. It was a lot bleaker than he thought it would be. "Koras, how much farther?" "About 3 of your miles. We need to hurry." "I'm running as fast as I can." "Mr. Kimall, I think now would be a good time to try out these Flying suits that you designed for us." "OK Commander Thompson, but we should be careful not to drain the power source. We need it for breathing and temperature regulation." "OK, we won't overuse it. Turn them on." Thompson punched in a few commands on his wrist console, and he shortly found himself flying toward the human face at a considerable speed. "Wow, this is amazing. At this rate, we'll be there in a few minutes." "The sooner the better Commander; this planet is giving me the creeps."

Krause and his squad jumped out of Avenger-2 and immediately had to dodge some plasma bolts. The aliens were advancing faster now. "Take cover behind that pyramid." "Yes sir!" "This is Captain Krause. You all know what to do. Kill as many of them as you can, and don't get killed." Krause aimed his heavy plasma rifle and blasted some Sectoids who were getting too close. Suddenly, a huge plasma bolt ripped through the Martian atmosphere and impacted Avenger-3, completely destroying it. "Damn! That blast was from the pyramids again. They must have had to readjust their targeting parameters for a ground bases assault." "Sir, I'm scanning a point from which the pyramids are being controlled. It's 1200 meters to our West. It's some sort of bunker." "I got it." Krause began typing in the commands to enable his Flying Suit. "I sure hope this works." He lifted off the ground and started toward the bunker. The pyramids could not fire at air targets anymore, so Krause was safe, or so he thought.

"Oh great, here comes the welcome wagon." Plasma bolts began zooming past Werner's head. Some Sectoids and Mutons were trying to shoot him down. Krause aimed his weapon down and programmed his suit for auto-target. He started spinning violently, shooting the aliens with two heavy plasma rifles. Krause nailed 12 of them, and the others ran away. "Whoa, just a bit dizzy. OK, center yourself and focus." He saw the alien bunker straight ahead of him. He pulled out a portable fusion ball launcher from his backpack, stowed his plasmas, and aimed his new alien flyswatter at the target. He squeezed the trigger and saw a grand explosion from the bunker. The blast blew him back a little. When he gathered himself, he put the fusion ball gun away and took his plasmas back out. He then saw something that made his heart start racing. 20 small scout vessels were coming right at him.

Kimall and his group landed at the human face. He punched in a few commands, and a large door opened. "Gentlemen, after you", said Thompson. They stepped onto the elevator, and their ride to the Master began. Kimall knew only of the Master from stories and hearsay. From here on out, it was alien to him.

"I want plasma rifles firing at anything that moves when this door opens." "Understood Commander." The ride slowly came to an end, and the apertures hissed open. Thompson looked out at what he had only seen before in dreams. "Are you guys seeing what I'm seeing?" A vast greening pasture was standing before him. Strange red and yellow rabbit-like animals were scurrying about. Huge flowers loomed like trees all around, purple grass blanketed the ground, and Thompson's suit's sensors detected to aliens. There was, however, an eerie green light coming from all around, and suddenly, the ground started to shake around him.

Krause readied his weapons and said a silent prayer as the small scouts approached him. He knew this day would come, but he wasn't seeing his life flash before him or anything so robust. "The scouts must be the last ships they aliens have", he thought to himself. The scouts started spinning as they neared him as if to signify they were ready to fire some plasma his way. Unexpectedly, some ships streaked over his head and engaged the small scouts craft. They were the Spacestorms!

"Well I'm sure glad you fellas decided to join the party." "Space Marshall Torban to Captain Krause." "Go ahead Ma'am." "Good job in destroying that bunker. We saw it on sensors up here. That facility was controlling those pyramids. You guys shouldn't have anymore plasmas coming from above." "Thank you. Would your flyboys mind giving us some air support? My squadrons are facing thousands of Sectoids." "No problem. We'll draw their fire from you and hopefully take a few with us!" "Sounds great."

Mederow looked out the elevator and saw complete darkness. "Whoa, are you guys still here?" There was no response. He stepped out and felt a soft ground. He never in his entire life felt so much fear.

Uta gazed out and saw a starscape filled with planets, moons, and interstellar gas. "Whoa shit! We're back in space. Are you guys seeing this???" She then felt herself falling helplessly downward. "Help me!!!" Kimall looked out and saw a light blue corridor made of alien alloys. There was a small Psi emitter positioned directly in front of them. He looked over at his comrades and saw that they were "freaking out". He aimed his plasma rifle at the device and blew it to hell. Thompson, Mederow, and Faerber immediately snapped back into reality as the psionic energy that was making them hallucinate was terminated. "Is everyone OK?" "Yeah, I think we're all still here." "Kimall, what happened?" "There was a psionic emitter here that was specifically designed to make any human see weird, distorted pictures and images. It's the Master's only line of defense. He never counted on having an Ethereal leading you guys into battle though." "You don't know how much the human race owes you Koras. We all thank you." "Well then, would you mind helping me destroy that supercomputer over to your right? I believe it is in control of the Psi emitter." They all turned to look.

Krause arrived back at his squad's location. They had taken serious casualties. 200 X-Com soldiers lay dead on the Martian soil. "Report! We're taking a beating. The Spacestorm aren't killing enough of them. We're losing ground. Those pyramids weren't our only threat. They're using Cyberdisc weapons platforms against us. Those things are tough as nails. To top it off, we're low on plasma. We won't last too much longer." Krause frowned. "We have to give Commander Thompson more time. If we retreat, they'll go after him. They'll be sitting ducks." "Not much different from what we are at the moment Sir." "Indeed. Keep firing!!! Everyone, use your lasers once your plasmas run out. We need to buy more time!"

Thompson and his squad planted heavy explosives at the base of the Supercomputer and took cover. A huge explosion rocked the giant mainframe, and its lights slowly dimmed into non-operation. The Master awakened. "My loyal minions, come to my aid. A strike force is in the ceremonial chamber. Help me!!!"

Koras picked up that psionic signal from the Master. Although he was not controlled by him anymore, he could still hear latent messages. "I hear him…the Master. He's aware of our presence. We must find him and kill him before it's too late." "OK, there is a long hallway with a door at the end down there. Koras, is the Master behind that door?" "Yes, but only I can open it. I must have clear thought to do so. The Master may be able to steal my mind like the Psi emitter did yours. Klaus, I will need your clarity of thought. Join your mind to my mind once more." Klaus looked into Kimall's dark eyes once again and found himself back at the green pasture. The pond was in front of him. He walked over to it and bent down. There he saw Koras opening a door and going through it. He then heard Koras say that his mental strength was now sufficient and that the Master would not be able to Psi control him again. Klaus was then zapped back into reality, albeit very tired from the psionic contact, but he was able to function. "Come on Mederow, let's go help Koras." "I'm right behind you." The three humans entered the Master's chamber. There they saw Koras standing at the base of a 500-meter tall blob of brain matter. It was the Master. Thompson walked over to it. "So, you're nothing more than a cerebral cortex?" "I am much more than that. I am your GOD!!!" "Well, I'd like to introduce myself. My name is David Thompson. I'm the Commander of X-Com. I represent the people of the Earth, and I'm here to smack your alien ass down!" The Master spoke: "Koras, my Ethereal. You have betrayed me and your people." "No, I have freed them from your tyranny and mind control. We will never be your minions again." "Yeah, and I think that goes for humanity as well. We really don't want you controlling our minds either." "You must believe me. Your puny lives will be much better under my control…ugh, supervision. You just need to put down your weapons and call off your attack." "Gee Master, I just don't think so. Toast him boys…and girl!" Thompson, Mederow, Kimall, and Faerber blasted countless beams of burning plasma into the throbbing blob of brains. The Master screamed out as he exploded in an oozing ball of alien blood and tissue. The Psionic Amplifier also was destroyed in the explosion, and the Master's chamber was silent. "Is that it Koras?" "Yes Commander, we can go now. Thank you Klaus for your clarity of thought." "No problem old friend."

"Damnit, everyone, fight hand to hand if you have to. We have to buy them more time!" Krause ran up to a Sectoid soldier and bashed him with the butt of his heavy plasma rifle. The aliens' plasmas had drained as well, and humans were much stronger than the aliens…except for the Mutons. Krause went up to a large, green Muton soldier and gave him a left hook. It didn't phase him. The Muton knocked him on his ass. Just as he was about to shatter Krause's helmet, the Muton stopped. In fact, all the aliens stopped…except for the Sectoids.

"Fight, fight on my brave Mutons. We must vanquish the human infestation. Snakeman Commander, fight on. Mutons, Floaters, Chryssalids, Ethereals, fight them!" But the psionic link with the Master had been cut off. The other aliens turned on the Sectoids and fought side by side with humans. A Muton spoke: "My brothers, we are freed. Destroy the greys!" The Sectoids didn't last long against the Mutons. Grey body parts flew up into the Martian sky and slowly plummeted back to the ground. Krause got up and dusted himself off. "Everyone, stand down. I think we got them all." Muton Commander walked over to Captain Krause. "Thank you my human friend, for you have saved us from the thoughts of the Master." "Ugh, don't mention it…my friend?" The Muton smiled and hugged Krause. The rest of X-Com cheered along with all the alien races.

Thompson and his group headed back to Avenger-1 and blasted off from Mars. 7 out of 20 of the other Avengers blasted off as well. The Pyramid Plasma Cannons damaged the other Avengers beyond repair. Kimall stayed behind and found his family. They rejoiced for the first time in ages as they were free from the Master's control. That night, the alien races all celebrated and sang songs in the light of their freedom and independence. Soon the humans would help them return to their Homeworlds and start their lives over. But for now, Mars was their home.

Mederow stepped out of Avenger-1 back onto Space Station Freedom. Faerber and Thompson followed behind him. Mother remarked how glad she was to see that Commander Thompson was still functioning in one piece. Thompson smiled at Mother's visual input camera. "Glad to see you too Mother." Tatyana Torban jumped out of the airlock from her carrier and ran to her friends. "We did it Uta! Can ya' believe it? You and I kicked their alien butts!" "Hey, wait a minute. I think we all helped out a little." "OK Klaus, we all kicked their alien butts!" Klaus turned to Thompson just as Werner Krause surprised them from behind. "Did we win, or did we win!?!?" "We sure did Werner. Thanx in no small part to you and your soldiers." "We do our job, and we do it well Sir!" "At ease Captain." "Yes Sir, of course Sir." The 5 of them gazed out the large bay window at Earth as the fleet was being repaired. "It's beautiful you know. Earth that is." "It is indeed Commander." All of them smiled as Mother informed them that President Clinton of America wished to speak with them. "You tell him that we're busy right now. We need to savor the moment." Thompson, Mederow, Torban, Krause, and Faerber stood there with their arms around each other. Mederow thought to himself: "Finally, the Sectoids will no longer perform horrific experiments on human beings. Finally, Koras is back with his family and the good aliens are all free. Finally, the Stars have all Fallen."