Mostly the tectical missions are slow paced and they are intended to be. But civilians spawn at bad postions sometimes. There could be research wich is helping with this. So after a few encounters you have a research with what you can make brossures on how to act when aliens attack. So if you researched this there is a high chance of that civilians spawn closer to you and not in alien sight. If you have radar coverage then there is a chance that not 8 but less civilians spawn(not spawned civilians counts as saved ones. Also some missions where are other military personel they should at least try to shoot back.
