X-COM:Into the Void
Episode 2: Head first into the void

Introduction
Narrator: Last time on X-COM:Into the Void, two ace pilots prove themselves to be reckless assets agianst the raiding pirates. Kyle Rowell, Captain of the new X-COM Quick Strike Cruiser Excaliber takes him off the flight roster, but is called to duty as an outpost reports it is under attack by unknown hostile forces. Kyle orders the two pilots, Tyler Reber and Kari Willams to deploy and investigate. Arriving, they discover the hostile threat... speeding towards them. Has the third Alien War begun?

Act I

Narrator:The site of the MegaPrimus project, on Terra. X-COMMAND headquarters. A lone figure stands by the window, watching the construction units fly-by, building the new utopia, the garden of eden, and the last ditch attempt of salvaging Earth. The figure is X-COMMAND supreme commander Derrick Aran.

Derrick:What a site, the true future of X-COM and humanity.

Narrator: The door to his room slides open, as Erin Stewart walks in quietly. The door hisses behind her, as it closes.

Derrick: A fine morning, is it not Erin?

Erin:Yes sir. I came to report to you on the status of the Excaliber as you wished sir.

Narrator: A flash of anger seems to cross the Supreme Commander's eyes, as he turns slowly around.

Derrick: Yes?

Erin: They have recieved a distress signal from an outpost under attack by hostile forces, and are moving in to assist in it's defense.

Derrick: Is the base located in the Xeno Sector.

Erin: Yes sir, it is located in the sector.

Narrator: In a bit of frustration, the Commander turns around, once agian focusing on his veiw of the city under construction. A vast project, his project.

Derrick: Is it your assesment that he is combating the aliens?

Erin: Unfortunatly, yes sir.

Derrick: Danmit Rowell... going for the glory...

Erin:Sir?

Derrick: That fool is going to bring attention to the new threat. Do you know what will happen then?

Erin: More funding will goto the X-COM Space Forces fund.

Derrick: Yes, and that means it will take longer to build MegaPrimus.

Erin: What can we do?

Derrick: Right now, nothing... but I have plans.

Erin: Yes sir.

Derrick: Prepare a shuttle, I want you to go up to the Quick Strike carrier Masamune and have it and the Scythe on standby for deployment.

Erin: Affirmative.

Narrator: As Erin leaves, Derrick looks out over MegaPrimus...

Derrick: My dear, Garden of Eden, I will not let them spoil you.

End of Act I

Act II

Tyler (Shouting): Break and attack!

Narrator: The fighters break up, and begin to fire missiles at the bright, shinny objects that come at them at tremendous speeds.

Avenger-1 Pilot: This is Avenger 1, relaying transmissions to Excaliber, and relaying Fusion Cannon fire coridinates to your squadron.

Tyler: Thanks Avenger 1.

Narrator: Meanwhile, on the bridge of the Excaliber.

<radio noise> Thanks Avenger 1

Narrator: Lauri Rowell quietly leans over to Kyle, and wispers

Lauri: Is it just me, or does Tyler seem suddenly more mature.

Narrator: Kyle smiles before turning his attention back to the tactical screen.

Rowell: Prep Beta and Delta Squadrons for combat. Have them on standby

Lt. White: Roger

Narrator: Meanwhile, on the planet surface..

Avenger 2 Pilot: We've taken another hit... left Elerium Naecell inoperative.. major hull damage.

Tyler: Hang in there Avenger 2.. Kari, cover Avenger 2.. I'll go after Hostile 1...

Kari: Uh.. roger..

Narrator: Tyler's fighter hits afterburners as he chases after Kari's former targer. The female ace pilot covers the Avenger, unsure of the current situation.

<To herself>Kari: He's acting strange.. and more bold. Shouldn't I be helping too?

Avenger 2 Pilot: This is Avenger 2.. incoming.

Narrator: Missiles fly past Kari's fighter, striking the Avenger 2...

Avenger 2 Pilot: We've been hit.. systems down.. ahhhha!

Narrator: The Avenger 2 strikes the ground, the elerium explosion creating a small shockwave effect, startling Kari, who was watching the doomed craft. Her focus reshifts to the alien starfighter.

Kari: Allright you bas***d! You turn to die.

Narrator: Kari fires missiles, one hits, sending the ship spiraling towards her Vulcan cannons which shred the ship into a firey explosion.

Kari: Tyler, we lost Avenger 2!

Tyler: Damn, finishing up over here, I'll be over there to help. Tyler to Captain Rowell, we've lost Avenger 2. We are meeting heavy enemy resistance, require support.

Narrator: Back on the bridge, sirens and klaxxons went off, as the crew watched the terror unfold on the tactical monitor.

Rowell: Tyler, we're sending Beta Squadron now.

Tyler: Acknowledged, thank you Captain.

Rowell: Commander Rowell, order Beta Squadron to launch, they need reinforcements.

Lauri: Roger.

Narrator: The Beta Squadron's engine lit up as the starfighters prepared for launch. They rocketed out of the launch cradles and into space. Each starfighter tilted itself for atmospheric entry, the adreneline surging through the pilots, who were anxious to enter the combat, and help their fellow pilots.

Lauri: Beta Squadron launched.

Rowell: Captain Rowell to Alpha Commander, Tyler, Beta Squadron is on it's way.

Narrator: Tyler fired some needless Vulcan rounds into the exploding craft, looking up into the sky to see the fireball that was aircraft entering an atmosphere.

Tyler: Thank god.. Alpha Commander to Beta Commander.. thanks for the support.

Narrator: Tyler refocused on flying, looking as he saw the outpost's city in person.. fire burning it down. The shock froze him, until he saw lifting up from the streets, several more alien fighters.

Kari: Oh no...

Tyler <gasping>:More incoming..

Narrator: Meanwhile, on the bridge, even more terror struck.

Lt. White: Oh sh**...

Narrator: The tactical screen was displaying an alien fleet clearing the planet's second moon, on an intercept course for the ship.

Rowell: Battlestations... Lauri, can we use the static sheild field..

Luari: Readying the system now...

Rowell:Very good, Lt. White, tell battlestations to fire at will on my command.

Lt. White: Yes sir.

Narrator: Three alien starfighters led the pack, firing strange looking projectiles at the Excaliber.

Lt. White: Captain! Incoming projectiles... probally torpedos.

Rowell: Lauri, the sheilds...

Lauri: I am working as fast as I can Kyle, danmit!

Lt. White: Impact in thirty seconds, Captain.

Narrator: Kyle runs over and help Lauri, meanwhile, the objects continue their rocketing towards the starship.

Lt. White:20 Seconds

Lauri: Transfering energy from thrusters and engines to static sheilds. 5... 4.. 3.. 2.. 1.. done.

Rowell: Static sheilds are go... fire them up!

Lt. White: 10 seconds.

Lauri:Affirmative

Narrator: The sheild generators hum, as a static feild begins to form around the Excaliber. The whole bridge crew stare at the Tactical display.. and the bluish aura as the static field grows around the ship.
Then, the impact...
Tyler looks up, seeing a small, but bright flash...

Tyler:Oh no...

End of ACT II

ACT III

Lauri (Unsure):Kyle, are you there?

Rowell: Of course!

Narrator: The starship remains unscathyed from the close call of the alien torpedos. Lt. White reports to the crew first...

Lt. White: Alien fleet aproaching at increasing velocity.

Rowell: Sheild status?

Lauri: The sheilds are shot to hell.. they aren't going to work agian.

Rowell: Allright, goto armored battle mode.

Lauri and Lt. White: Yes sir!

Narrator: The ship begins to shift, as the two outcroping jump engines begin to move towards, and then inside the ship.. and armor layer covering over it, and opening up a missile rack. The armor peice below the bridge rises, to cover over the bridge and the observation deck, which locks down. From the underbelly of the bridge extends to long cannons.

Lauri: Transformation complete.

Rowell: Affirmative.. Lt. White, tell Battlestations to fire at will.

Lt. White: Yes sir!

Narrator: A transmission comes in, Tyler Reber's voice over the radio.

Tyler: Is everything allright up there.

Rowell: Just a battle of our own.

Tyler: Okay, I'll focus on mine, and let you focus on your own.

Rowell: Good, Captain Rowell out.

Lauri: The main starship is moving in and is preparing to fire weapons.

Rowell: Ready the main cannons.

Lauri: Yes sir!

Narrator: Meanwhile...

Kari: We just lost Avenger-1

Beta Commander: This is Beta Commander.. I am taking heavy fire... two ships... ca....

Beta 2:Commander!!!!

Tyler: Damn! Kari, your Beta Commander!

Kari: But.. shouldn't someone from-m Beta...

Tyler: Kari, you are now Beta Commander.. now get commanding....

Kari: Yes sir!

Narrator: The skies of the planet, and the stars above were showing signs of the vast battle.. but meanwhile, across the stars.. in a small star system called Sol. The two sister ships of the Excalier, the Masamune and the Scythe await the arival of Erin Stewart, who is taking her time in her personal shuttle. A secure video feed is linking her with the X-COM supreme commander.

Derrick: I hope that the aliens destroy the ship first...

Erin: It would be the easist thing.

Derrick: I don't see that happening though. The ship's got a fine crew, and Rowell is among the best of X-COM. That's why your gonna be out there.

Erin: What is my objective?

Derrick: If the ship surivives, it's gonna take damage... it may have to land and repair itself. If so, you job is to make sure the aliens win.

Erin: How?

Derrick: By destroying the ship yourself!

Narrator: The video channel closes as Erin's shuttle comes up on the starship Masamune.

Erin: Yes.. sir...

Narrator: Back across the stars, the battle intesifies...

Lt. White: Main cannon's fired! Medium damage dealt to the UFO.

Rowell: Damn!

Narrator: Another strike rocks the entire starship.

Rowell: Where's Tyler?

Narrator: Down on the surface...

Lauri: Tyler, we need you now!

Tyler: Commander, as soon as we can break away, we will provide support!

Lauri: Hurry Tyl...

Tyler: Commander? Commander! Damn it all!

Narrator: In a growing rage, Tyler hits his radio, activating his music, and from there, he launches it all into battle. From a distance, Kari Willams watches as Tyler burns his afterburners, and begins to engage everyone's target...

Beta 3: Alpha Leader! What are you doing?

Tyler: Alpha and Beta Squadron's break off attack and support the Excaliber.

Alpha 4: What, sir?

Tyler: Go!

Alpha and Beta Squadrons: Yes sir!

Kari: I am not leaving you...

Tyler: Kari.. go now!

Kari: I don't think so.. you're gonna need some ace pilot styled help...

Narrator: Tyler's Interceptor wheels around to Kari's..

Kari: You're not getting a choice.

Tyler: Your prefrence.. lets kick some a**!

Narrator: The two aces fight on, as the two squads proceed to support the excaliber.

Lauri: Captain, we can't maintain this power level for long.

Rowell: One more good shot.. ready the main cannons.

Lt. White: Yes sir...

Lauri: That last shot will cost us.. the damage is getting extensive...

Rowell: I know.. but the alternative is destruction.. think about it...

Lauri: I see your point, aiming Main Cannon's now.

Lt. White: Main Cannon's power at 100%!

Lauri: Aimed and locked!

Rowell: Fire!

Narrator: The main cannons of the Excaliber fire, two balls of fusion striking the alien ship, creating two massive explosions, the one massive one as the ship blow up. Cheers come from the bridge crew, even as Lauri watches as the main power fades. She leans over to Kyle Rowell.

Lauri: Kyle, we've gotta land.

Rowell: Allright. Lt. White, prepare for emergancy touch down in water, and atmospheric entry.

Lt. White: What?

Rowell: You heard me, and turn off autopilot, I'll be controling manually.

Narrator: Lt. White shoots a glance at Lauri, she nods, suggesting Kyle capable of it.
The ship begins its descent, as the last of the alien forces are elimenated, or retreat.

End of Act III

Act IV

Kari: You got that last one Tyler?

Tyler: He's all mine!

Kari: Tyler, look up...

Tyler: It must be the Excaliber.

Narrator: Firing his last missile, the final alien spacecraft is destroyed. Tyler turns his attention to the fireball of a starship entering the atmosphere.

Kari: Are they...

Tyler: No, it's a control descent. Alpha Commander to Excaliber, what's your status?

Lauri: We are descending for oceanic landing, to proceed with repairs? Hostiles eliminated.

Tyler: Affirmative, I've just took out the last one.

Lauri: Good, mission accomplished, we're touching down, return to carrier now.

Tyler: Roger.


Narrator: The Quick Strike Cruiser Excaliber 1 lands in the water softly, the shio bouyant, and capable of floating, as Tyler and Kari touch down in the landing strip inside the carrier.

Meanwhile, the bright flash of hyperspacial drops singal to the arrival of more ships. The crew stands by, waiting for confrimation. The radio crackles, and a female voice is heard.

Erin: This is Acting Captain Erin Stewart, of the Masamune. Good job Exaliber-1.

Rowell: Thank you Captain.

Narrator: A peace comes over the crew and pilots of the ship, but the future looks bleek to the unsespecting Excaliber.

End of Act IV
End of Episode II

Narrator: Next time on X-COM:Into the Void, the Excaliber takes a needed rest, olny to face one of it's enemy, and to later meet a trecherous second enemy, from inside X-COM itself... on the next exciting episode of X-COM:Into the Void.