Exalt Base Revenge Story Spoilers Below \/ \/
Dang it, these episodes keep getting increasingly enticing for me to have to write! D
Enjoy!

26:10:

Zhang, within his newly fitted MEC suit, took out the final EXALT sniper within the area. His mind then crossed back to an earlier sniper shot he heard from EXALT, which was followed up by another sound he was dreading. "What of the operative?" he thought. He turned around to the rest of the squad who were now piling out onto the street, except for Erica.

Zhang: Where's our operative?

The squad gave each other concerned looks.

Martin: ... I think she went inside!

Not wanting to waste any precious time for what the squad were suddenly realizing, they all pile back into the burning building. It doesn't take long for the squad to find Erica's body, resting on a bloodied carpet face down.

Chris: Oh f...
Martin: Oh no! No. No. No. No!

Without hesitating, Martin rolls Erica's body over and whips out a medkit to start spraying its healing contents. It isn't working. Martin even tries CPR, but everyone else who is watching this knows Erica is beyond saving. Deedee steps forward and puts a hand on Martin's shoulder, she shakes her head.

Vinnie: Fuuuck!

Vinnie kicks an office bin in anger. There's a moment of silence, even while the rest of the building continues to burn.

Deedee: We should leave. Zhang?

Deedee gestures to Erica's body. Slowly stepping forward, Zhang with both arms starts to carry her body back to the Skyranger. Haley picks up Erica's carry bag to head out also, but stops when she notes something glowing inside. It was Erica's phone, which was receiving information from the nearby transmitter from behind the building they were in. Haley's eyes widen.

Deedee: What is it?
Haley: I'm no expert at intelligence gathering, but according to this list... I think we might have them!
Deedee: Central are you getting this?
Bradford: Affirmative, we just finished with the last collection of data mining... Colonel, It looks like Braulting did it...

31:42:

XCOM HQ

The whole base was buzzing with anger and anticipation for the final go ahead to destroy EXALT. Its personnel within were actively motivated in making sure that Erica didn't perish for nothing, to make certain that her sacrifice, would become the final nail in EXALT's coffin. It wasn't long before confirmation came back from Covert Operations, that Mexico, was where EXALT's HQ was located. It was time, for revenge.

Carlson, Mamba, Haley, Zhang, Fortuna and Oliver were the chosen to soldiers to make XCOM's vengeance heard. The squad became all the more eager to carry out EXALT's destruction, when Zhang and Carlson both had the idea to use their enemy's weapons against them. Along with rockets to boot for both Deedee and Carlson, this mission was shaping up to be the cruellest form of insult yet. The squad begins to board the Skyranger, but Deedee turns around to face Carlson. She pushes a hand against Carlson's shoulder. Deedee mumbles.

Deedee: We aren't going to have problems here with Mamba, right?

Carlson's face is serious, but still calm with the mention of Mamba's name.

Carlson: ... This mission isn't about me. This is about Erica.
Deedee: ... Very good. Shall we make some pancakes then?

Carlson maliciously smiles.

Carlson: Yes... let's...

34:27:

The Skyranger hovers above the roof an inconspicuous office building. The squad all leap down on guide wires, with the exception of Zhang who just drops in with a loud thud. Stealth wasn't their plan by all accounts. The EXALT are quick to pick up on the surprise attack. They desperately try to get into position as the firefight begins. Deedee, Haley, Mamba and Carlson are supporting from outside, while Zhang and Oliver press on, deeper into the disgustingly luxurious base.

Zhang takes a rocket and a pelting of lasers to his exterior, as the EXALT are desperately trying to keep the metal giant at bay.

Zhang: Ha! Is that all you have to offer?!
Oliver: Err, guys! Could we get some of our own explosions happening?!

Deedee and Carlson turn to face each other.

Deedee: Two servings of shredder coming right up!

Both heavies race to get their rockets loaded. Their honed in training for loading rockets allows their launchers to be loaded within seconds, and within seconds of each other. Launching almost at the same time, two shredder rockets enter the building to completely level much of its interior. The increases in chaos leads to many EXALT out of cover and disorientated. Seizing the opportunity, Zhang drills two of them in quick succession with his rail gun, while Mamba expertly picks off one trying to flee with his other partner. The EXALT are being pushed back within their own base.

One surviving EXALT is all that remains in the room Zhang is presently in. He flees to hide behind a wooden drawer. Desperate to stop him from following, the EXALT soldier fires at Zhang again. It hits, but it hardly stunts Zhang. He slowly begins to advance forward at walking pace. Soon, Zhang is directly looming over a now petrified EXALT. The KSM begins to whir up.

Zhang: This...

Zhang smashes the wooden drawer to splinters.

Zhang: ...is going to hurt you, more then it's going to hurt me.

Delivering a massive uppercut punch, the EXALT is sent screaming off the edge of the building, through some railings along the way. His screams fade off as he approaches the ground. Zhang kneels down for a moment, to let his suit have a break from all the action. It was a resounding kill, but the mission wasn't quite over. Only a handful of EXALT were left, after everything they had previously sent at XCOM. Seizing a reprieve, the squad takes their time to ready themselves for the final push. Once Zhang and Oliver had recovered with the aid of Mamba, Zhang leads the charge into the EXALT's central hub. There within, was a hologlobe that was the complete opposite look of XCOM's. To the rest of the squad, they saw this only as fuel for fire.

Carlson: Burn it all down!

The two heavies expended their remaining rockets into the few EXALT forces that remained. The destruction was truly extensive, fire was spreading everywhere. The hologlobe started to flicker, as if it was on EXALT's dying breath. Haley quickly put down two, Mamba put down another from a fair distance away. Now there was literally two EXALT left against XCOM. Deedee jogged up next to the hologlobe, next to a distasteful human skull in a glass enclosure. Figuring she could kill two birds with one heavy laser machine gun, she opens fire through the ornament to kill an EXALT... Now there stood just one, frozen in shock. Oliver stepped up to face him, running into the hologlobe.

EXALT Soldier: You honestly think you can win?! Against the extraterrestrials?!
Oliver: Ask them when you see them in hell...!

Oliver fires, the EXALT dies. They were finally finished.

Oliver: For Braulting...

Haley, Deedee and Mamba briefly convene within a corner of the ruined EXALT HQ to contemplate their future, while they left Zhang and Carlson to 'dismantle' the hologlobe. Oliver meanwhile was looking around at all the art and other artefacts the EXALT had decked out for themselves, that hadn't been destroyed from their rampage.

Oliver: Pity about a lot of this art.
Carlson: You fucking serious?! All this impressionistic rich shit just makes me want to hurl!
Oliver: My point exactly... they're rich.

Oliver rubs his fingers against his thumb in one hand to gesture money.

Oliver: Funding that could buy us a few drinks, no?
Carlson: ... Huh...

While they still could, before any emergency services or fire reached any surviving valuables, Oliver, Carlson and Zhang all started with ransacking the headquarters.

Mamba: Well, quite the loud victory we made here today. We should leave soon.
Deedee: We can finally continue with what we were supposed to do originally.
Haley: Yeah...

Deedee recalled how much Haley hated the idea of other humans interfering with XCOM out of delusion and ignorance. Especially after Deedee had technically died at one point from the aliens.

Deedee: Let's go home Haley.

Not wanting to take another glimpse at anything left that was to do with EXALT, Haley and Deedee started on their way out.

Mamba: You two really have each other's back huh...?

Haley and Deedee stop, they turn around.

Deedee: So what if we do?
Mamba: Just asking here, not trying to insinuate anything... not that it really matters what I think in the end.

Haley couldn't help but latch on to the tiniest bit of sadness that snuck into his voice.

Haley: Are you... jealous?
Mamba: ... There probably was a time where I would've said yes, but such a man like that has long been buried, back in Nigeria. I will say this however.

Mamba took a step forward towards the couple.

Mamba: What matters, is that we as soldiers, are able to stay alive by any means necessary, in order to see us through the fights.

Typical Mamba was being typical, Haley and Deedee were both thinking.

Mamba: I have seen the way you two act, with your attachments to each other. I spoke previously about how making attachments can become lynch pins for soldiers. And certainly, I have seen my fair share of people die because of them... by now, I'm sure you are both quite aware of this notion... and yet, here you both are, having ignored my advice.
Haley: Don't feel so bad Mamba, not everyone here is a calculated tactical over-mind like you. That's a compliment by the way.
Mamba: Hmm... I'm not implying that your ties here are a weakness. Quite the opposite it would seem.
Deedee: What are you saying?
Mamba: I'm saying, that you both appear to share quite a rare strength, one that could overcome the hardships of death, if it came for either of you.
Deedee: ... I get enough that kind of analysis from a psychologist daily you know. But if you must know... yes. I...

Deedee turns to face Haley, she smiles.

Deedee: ... We, have come to accept that possibility. If it happens... I refuse to be broken by it... I can't...

Haley reaches to hold Deedee's hand.

Haley: I would never want that for you, just because of a beaver lover like me.
Deedee: ... Likewise.

Deedee sighs.

Deedee: I came too close to seeing you broken as well, because of what nearly happened to me. Never again, ok?

Haley nods. Deedee squeezes Haley's hand. Mamba starts to slowly walk past Haley and Deedee to the Skyranger.

Haley: Hey, Mamba.

Mamba stops, back still turned on them. Haley couldn't help but wonder...

Haley: What about you?
Mamba: What about me?
Haley: ... Were you, speaking from personal experience, _yourself_?

There's a pause, it is unclear if Mamba was feeling affronted or not.

Haley: ... You just seemed to figure us out so well...
Mamba: Amara.
Deedee: ... What?
Mamba: That was her name, Amara... She made me promise, to not be broken... even while I held her...

If Mamba was becoming emotional, he was doing a one hell of a job disguising his feelings, as he continued his way back to the Skyranger. For the best, as Deedee and Haley could both agree on.