XCOM (EU2012)

XCOM insignia

Two possibilities exist: either we are alone in the Universe or we are not. Both are equally terrifying - Arthur C. Clarke

In the beginning of the 21st century the number of UFO sightings grew throughout the world, until the reports couldn't be ignored anymore by Earth's political and military leaders. Deciding to pool their resources together, a group of the world's sixteen most powerful countries activated the 'XCOM project'. A covert international agency was established, called XCOM and was tasked with the role of investigating and stopping the growing alien threat, operating out of XCOM Headquarters, a hidden subterranean base and being staffed with the best personnel and most advanced equipment from the nations of Earth.

XCOM Headquarters

XCOM

In order to execute the orders issued by the Funding Council, the XCOM (or eXtraterrestrial COMmand) Commander has at his/her disposal XCOM HQ and its resources, which are divided into five main areas:

• Mission Control - Led by Officer Bradford, responsible for the satellite network and to launch interceptors and Skyranger transport craft carrying squads on combat missions.

• Situation Room - Where the Commander may manage Finances, receive monthly reports and special missions from the Funding Council, sell advanced technology at the Grey Market, as well as keep track of XCOM's objectives.

• Soldiers - The ground troops that will fight and ultimately defeat the aliens on the ground and everything related to them, including hiring/sacking, equiping, promoting/training and healing.

• Science Lab - under the supervision of Chief Scientist Dr. Vahlen, in charge of all scientific research regarding Alien Life Forms and apply that knowledge to XCOM's benefit.

• Engineering - led by Chief Engineer Dr. Shen, responsible for all projects at the Workshops and Foundry that reverse engineer the aliens' advanced technologies, as well as base expansion projects.

XCOM soldiers pass by the Geoscape on Mission Control

Winning/Losing the war

In order for Earth to win the war against the Aliens the XCOM Commander will have to use and manage wisely XCOM's resources in order to achieve two goals:

1. To discover and stop the invaders' agenda - by capturing live aliens and recovering alien artifacts in order to study and use their advanced technology and discover their intentions. In order to achieve this XCOM will have to achieve a number of specific Objectives that will be outlined on the Situation Room.
2. To prevent the closure of the XCOM project - by both keeping a satisfactory performance to the Funding Council and preventing that high panic levels cause eight Earth nations to sign pacts with the Aliens, which will automatically end the XCOM project.

In order to win the war, XCOM will have to follow a strategy that allows it to achieve both goals. If XCOM fails to achieve both goals Earth will be defeated at and the mercy of the aliens.

We only have to look at ourselves to see how intelligent life might develop into something we wouldn't want to meet - Stephen Hawking

See Also

• XCOM Headquarters
• Mission Control
• Situation Room
• Soldiers
• Research
• Engineering