XCOM Base Defense (EU2012)

Mission Objectives

The invaders have infiltrated XCOM in unknown numbers. Limited reinforcements, including XCOM Base Security personnel, are available. Failure will mean the end of XCOM. Defend our base by all necessary means If all soldiers in the combat area are killed, XCOM HQ will fall

Source: XCOM: Enemy Unknown (2012)

Notes

• This mission is always called: Operation Ashes and Temples.
• The Aliens can now attack the XCOM HQ once during a game, resulting on a Base Defense mission against the aliens.
• While you're scanning for activity the Hologlobe on Mission Control will start to flicker and there will be a cinematic showing sections of the XCOM HQ exploding or being attacked by mind controlled XCOM personnel. Afterwards Bradford will inform you that alien intruders have been detected and you'll need to defend HQ's Delta Section.
• You'll start with a random group of soldiers consisting combat veterans and rookies (base security personnel). The section of the base has been cut off and you'll have to defend it from the aliens until reinforcements can arrive. The aliens will attack in waves.
• If you lose the mission you'll lose the game.
  • You can restart the mission if you lose.
• Your combat soldiers will be equipped with what they have at the moment in the Barracks after their last mission and the base security will have Assault Rifles and Frag Grenades. You'll get 3 waves of reinforcements each time Bradford informs you that they've managed to reopen the security door.
• Delta Section has a rectangular design, consisting of 4 linked sections: Rear Guard Station, Command Center, MEC Bay and Forward Access Tunnel.
  • The aliens will first drop from the ceiling on the Command Center and the Rear Guard Station and afterwards their waves will arrive at the MEC Bay and the Tunnel.
• Base Defense can take place after May and at least until September.
• Although Base Security personnel may be promoted during the mission, you won't get to keep them as soldiers.
• At the end of the mission Bradford will comment that "we still need to find how this was possible", although you'll need to play the Progeny campaign to learn about it.

Tactics

• If you get Tactical Rigging, the base security personnel ("Blueshirts") will have 2 grenades instead of one.
• Each time you receive reinforcements you'll get 1 of your combat soldiers, plus 0-2 Blueshirts.
• Expect to be fighting 40+ aliens during the whole mission. You'll see all the aliens you've encountered so far during the game.
• During the start of the mission keep your soldiers on Overwatch on the elevated platforms for the bonus accuracy from high ground.
• On the final wave of aliens coming through the Forward Access Tunnel, keep your troops on the MEC Bay and let the aliens come to you. Otherwise you risk being outnumbered (and killed) on the area linking both sections.
• Use your combat soldiers to whittle down the larger aliens and the Blueshirts for the killing blow.